Thetownend.com

The Opponent: Walsall

We meet again after what has been a relatively quiet week in the recent history of Swindon Town. I must say, the current tranquillity that finds itself nestled over SN1 is a well needed breather from off the field matters. Not waiting up until silly o’clock for the Old Board/Di Canio statements can take its toll after a while. Onwards and upwards.

I’m really hoping we can get a decent crowd in today. To have a serious chance of winning this league we need to be winning the home matches, regardless of who it is against, starting today with The Saddlers. Our recent home form is the only thing that has stopped us from being a few points clear at the top of League 1, draws with supposedly lesser opposition are not doing us many favours, and those stunning wins on the road against Tranmere and Coventry just 7 days ago need following up with a home performance that is fitting of champions elect! I think, like others, I find myself warming to KM, he obviously has very different methods to Di Canio, but if he is as good a man manager as people say then he should be able to do good things with the strong squad of players we have been left with. Throw a couple of loaness in to the mix and we can realistically kick on and find ourselves in the Championship next season.

It seems we have met Walsall quite a few times in recent years, to an extent we have both yo-yoed between Leagues 1 and 2, and the visit to The Bescot (or whatever it is now known as) has always been one of my favourite away days.

The town of Walsall is home to some 180’000 folk, which surprised me, they certainly know how to pack them in up in The West Midlands. Historically, Walsall was part of The County of Staffordshire but now comes under The West Midlands, although to call them Brummies is somewhat wide of the mark as the local dialect is known as Yam Yam, which is shared with other parts of The Black Country. Interestingly, a local landmark is Barr Beacon, which is reportedly the highest point following its latitude eastwards until the Ural Mountains in Russia! Why I never knew this information before now baffles me.  For many years, Walsall was the West Midlands answer to Blackpool with a stunning array of illuminations, which are sadly now a thing of the past due to financial restraints. The local council promised lots of different attractions in its place although nothing has materialised, in all truths, is it possible to squeeze Walsall and attraction in the same sentence? In a recent survey amongst the good folk of Walsall, they were asked what the best things about Walsall are. Some of the popular answers included, “£ shops, The Stein as its not full of twats, The Charity Shops, Shit Beer and Prozzies”. My favourite answer has to be the contributor who simply said, “The best thing about Walsall is it makes you appreciate the rest of the UK”. Harsh   

What have they been saying about us? –

“I will be there but not impressed with the 25 quid entry and don’t remember to many decent boozers apart from the one the team came to when we won the league 2 title”

“Is this the place with The Magic Roundabout”?

Walsall last 6 – WWDDWW (Currently 8th on 55 points)

The irrelevant stats –  The Saddlers are on an impressive run of form at the moment, there is no denying, but we ain't doing to bad either, something has to give today, hopefully in our favour. Walsall have a decent enough away record, having won 7, drawn 5 and lost 6 of their 18 games on the road. They have not tasted defeat in their last 3 away games and have scored 24 goals and conceded 24 goals at the same time.

The Threat – So far this season 1 man stands out for Walsall and that is Will Grigg who has found the back of the net on 16 occasions so far this season.

A Warm Welcome To – Craig Westcarr, not a name that springs out and slaps you round the chops but some 30 odd thousand STFC fans may well remember Westcarr scored the game clinching goal for Chesterfield last season in the JPT Final.

Head to Head – Hopefully another one in the STFC Column today – Swindon have won 33, Drawn  25 and Walsall have been victorious 31 times.

The Odds –  Swindon 8/11   Draw  3/1  Walsall 4/1  Personally I really think we will win this, Walsall are doing well, and fair play to them, but the Saddlers own manager Dean Smith has said in the local press that this is the toughest test for them so far, and he is right. I fancy a tenner on a 3-0 win (15/1 with Bet Victor), even if it is an imaginary one. First goalscorer is about as predictable as ever (Williams, Collins, Rooney all around the 9/2 and 5/1 area) so why not have a few bob on Simon Ferry to get the 1st at a generous 16/1 with Coral.

The Son Says – “We will thrash them 4-0”. Good enough for me.

The Prediction – I think today’s game could say a lot about which way our season could end up going. Granted, IF we drop points today the season is hardly over, but as mentioned earlier, we have to be winning these games, and we will, 3-0, with goals from Williams, Flint and a late Gary Roberts thunderbolt to send the large majority of an 8’433 crowd (866 from Birmingham) home happy.

And Finally – Between 1991-1993, our new manager turned out for today’s opposition on 53 occasions, scoring 7 goals in the process. This was to be his last professional football club as a player.

COYR COYR COYR

Top post as always SR

2-0 Williams and Ferry !

 8,890

I'm confident of a 2-0 for the mighty reds

There will be over 10K in attendance.
Massive support for the town tomorrow.
Onwards and upwards.
Spoke to so many that were well pissed off they didn't make the trip last weekend.
A legendary away game and Support was massive.
We will be top of the league for maybe 5 or 6 minutes.
Brentford for me on Tuesday is the defining game of our season. Sends out a message if we win.
That's when we go two points clear at the top.
Anyone that knows anyone in the game all saying the same. Swindon are gonna walk this league .....
Sheffield Utd we will need 4K / 5K to shut up the locals. Dannys boys will fall apart.
I remember the days of 14K away at wolves getting robbed by the REF.
Lets have 6K up there and show em some support.
Time to get behind the players for 90 mins and maybe grumble at the end if it don't happen.
Its the players that have got us here. No MGMT. No Owners. No board.
Give them the same passionate support we did last weekend.... Its easy... Shout and shout and don't stop making noise.
Even if you are sat in the Arkells.
Lets get back to the promised land while shitty drop to there rightful home.
BTW..... Pissed again ...

So pissed off I can't be there as I'm working in London....COYR

2-0

Should win this as they will surely come and have a go and not try to park the bus if they want to make the play offs.

Sides that have done that we have thrashed so COYR

3-1 with 9,054 crowd.

COYR

We will definitely win as otanswell isn't going! 2-1 with Williams scoring both. 9462 with 409 from Walsall. Looking forward to this, just hope it's not quite as edge of the seat as last week.

At least you got West Midlands right this time.

Well done again SR.

This has the makings of a good game. Dean Smith has clearly done a great job on the proverbial shoestring budget and they are currently second on current form whilst our home form has been as bad at times as it has been good at others - for every Carlisle there's been a Colchester, for every Bournemouth, a Bury. So they will fancy their chances and have a bit of a go.

That said though, last week was an epic result and performance which could be a defining moment in the season. The players I'm sure will be buzzing after that and with a new gaffer to impress. So hopefully today will be more Tranmere than Orient. I am confident that it will and so I am turning to 'old faithful'...

2-0 Williams, Collins

Good one SR

The home support and first home game for KM will be too much for Walsall.

3-1 and a 9,999 crowd.

If we play anything like we did against Coventry,we'll run out easy winners.2-0 Rooney and Miller and a crowd of 8992

We will thrash them, 2-1

I base my prediction on the number of dumps the dog does on his morning walk.

So, for that reason, it's 2-0 - both Williams.

Totally agree this game could have a significant bearing on how our season ends up.....

I never worry about as away from home - just home form this season has been poor when considering our current standing...

I would take a scruffy one nil....

U Redssssssssss

Well written once again Mr. Rosso.

What an intriguing piece of information about Barr Beacon. Fascinating fact that.  ;D


Fancy us sneaking a tight win today, 1-0 town. 

Corrected for you.

2-0 to the town.

Sci-Fi should have got the first (for STFC at least) last week, but no returns on that, so realistic is right

2-1 defeat.

I hope we give them a good pasting, ruin their run and kill their confidence for the final stages of the season.

But I can see us losing this one.

If KMac can sort our home form out, we might just win this league.

If I was a walsall fan with the form they are on, against a team struggling at home. Odds of 4/1 looks absolutely massive!

Nice write up rosso , 3-0 town in front of 9,128 with 852 walsalls , cant wait


Let's fucking stuff these fucking cunts

Another win for KMac against a former club.. 2-0 Swindon!

So the dog has different dump techniques. Obviously he deployed the Williams style twice today.

This will be very tough. A hard fought 2-1, with a late late winner from Alan Mac.

Gonna be a really tough game but one that we really have to win to stay in contention.

On current form they are better than us, here is the league table from 2013 of all leagues the top 10...

Team      Played   W   D     L  Points
Walsall         11     8   2     1    26
Northampton 13     8   1     4    25
Yeovil          10     8   1     1    25
Swindon       12     6   5     1    23
Bristol Rovr   12     7   2     3    23
Watford       11     7   2     2    23
Exeter         11     7   2     2    23
Man Utd        8     7   1     0    22
Gillingham     12     6   3     3    21
Morcambe    12     6   3     3    21

In recent years this fixture has invariably ended up as a draw, although I do remember a dire 3-0 loss in the joyful Malpas era.

Walsall are on a good run and we're shaky at home. We need to win to ensure nobody starts to open a little gap, doesn't matter how we do it.

Reading on their forums they expect to have a good following of between 800-1,000 today so should be a good crowd too, with a good tail wind maybe over 9k.

I expect 8,865 with 851 Saddlers in attendance.

Todays match followed by Brentford & Yeovil away is a really tough run of games that I feel will make or break our hopes of a top 2 finish. Home form is becoming a worry so hoping KM will be able to turn that around. At least these teams should be prepared to have a go at us which seems to suit the way we play.

Yeah - he missed the pavement!!

Home form has got to get better! I will be returning to UK for the run-in so home form will be as good as it was last time I was in UK. Predict a 3-1 win crowd 9,333.

Better than Chris Martin, he couldn't even manage a dump.

Walsall @ 4/1

Crazy big price given their form and our stutters at home

2-1 Collins, Williams

Hard game, Walsall will frustrate us, 1-1.

I don't know anything about gambling - is that just for a win by any margin?

Yes you are correct

I've got a good feeling about this. 2-1 Swindon COYR

Jed is in the the junior robins room with a film crew pressing flesh and chatting to the kids

We've lost at home to worse teams than this-one all.

I see some of their fans complaining about the ticket price and that we need it to pay for our huge squad...which is smaller than theirs

Lost to worse, beaten better  :hmmm:

Unchanged team today.

persevering with Ferry out wide?

Yes.

Just in from a youth game in Nailsea.

Walsall on a goodish run and won't be pushovers.

Interestingly, last weeks Football League show said that their squad didn't cost a penny - all either freebies or loans.

Scrappy 1-0 win to us, Rooney (A) scoring from the bench.

Nice to see the return of Devera on the bench.

Full team:

Foderingham; Thompson N, Flint, Ward, McEveley; Ferry, Miller, McCormack, Roberts; Collins, Williams

Subs: Bedwell, Devera, Navarro, Thompson L, Rooney L, De Vita, Rooney A

Okay.

Mmmm.

I like the giving away of 2,100 free tickets on the Bank to local teams, nice initiative by the new board, Excalibur initiative or something like that so I take it thats sponsored by Excalibur Comms?

For the Oldham game.

Nothing happening so far then?

1-0

Williams scored just as you posted that

Yessssss

yayy

Afternoon chaps!

GOOOAL ! Williams!

IN OFF HIS ARSE!

Wooooooooooo!

Get in!

Magic

Interesting to note that it took a massive deflection. Is that the way Williams can get shots on target? :-)

 :clap:

The 'crapping dog' prediction is half way correct......

Yay

Excellent. Is anything happening........ now?

They all count.

Miller 25 yarder well saved :)

No.

Come back later.

 Good try . . .

 :clap:

Big up the happy crappers!

Brentford losing

Flint not concentrating.

Brentford loooosing . . .

Bournemouth and Franchise win would put us top...

Penalty...fuck.

Penalty to Walsall

pen to Walsall

1-1

1-1

Disappointing.

Great! Arrived and we scored. Left and they scored.

Am back now........

Thompson needs to come off imo.  He's well off the pace and has been caught a few times now hence the booking.  I wonder if he's carrying an injury*

Another fucking clueless referee

Roberts scores but both he and Collins were offside

Just been txted by a mate at the game saying this too.

Westcarr misses chance

HT, sounds like a draw is a fair half time standing.

Got to forget about the cock ref, go 4 4 2 and get on with it. Not sure it was a pen, would have shouted for it if it was us

Alan mac on the radio said it was an obvious penalty, not being at the game I cant comment but I have heard a few fans at the game saying it wasn't one.

BTW who is this woman doing reports on the Chippenham game? she sounds a little bit slow to say the least.

Are we playing 4-5-1? Willo on the wing?

Sue Davis' voice makes me want to rip out my own spine

Her voice is somewhat grating.

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/Team/professionals-profiles.page?PlayerName=Cristian%20Ceballos

ooooo Christian Ceballos may come in on loan, hes very highly regared at Spurs.

Goalscoring midfielder.

http://www.cartilagefreecaptain.com/2012/10/15/3508078/southampton-u21-2-4-tottenham-u21s-youthful-spurs-notch-up-impressive

Was the ref an extra from a steps music video?

Couldn't see for sure if it was a Pen. Looked like miller got the ball but the man too from the DRS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=act0RUfs-u4

former Barcelona player, get in

Looks a bit short

 :D

brentford 2-0 down

And a bit young :D that was 6 years ago, hes 5 foot 8 now, wanted by Real Madrid in the summer but chose to stay at Spurs.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/394851/20121016/tottenham-spurs-barcelona-star-cristian-ceballos.htm

A few bits about him on the Spurs forum.

http://www.tottenhamhotspurs.tv/forum/player-chat/26376-cristian-ceballos.html

getting back to the game, it sounds a bit poor now.

Bad miss by Flint apparently from a corner, he SHOULD be a much bigger threat from corners than he is.

Flint puts it wide

Tranmere 1 up

This sounds dull

really need a win here

McCormack sounds like he wants his name on the score sheet today...

Barn door billy scores v boremuff

Doncaster 1 up on B'muff

Games aren't always this boring to listen to are they? It's been ages, but I'm sure I used to enjoy listening.

I often switch over to the opposition's commentary which is normally better. Not this time though as Walsall's commentators are dire.

Sounds fucking dreadful.  Really need to find a winner from somewhere ....

De Vita on for Williams

Thompson injured. Thompson to come on for him?

Goalmouth scramble with desperate Town defending

Need a winner...

Not going to be our day today is it.

De Vita came on for Roberts

Get the other Rooney on.  Move Ferry to the centre

Sorry. So bored I wasnt concentrating

Get In!!!!

Get the fuck in!!!!

Yesssssssssssss

Cock up by the GK

Ferry !!!!

GET IN FERRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Ferry is much better out wide :)

Ferry??!

YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

lovely

Yesssssssssss get in there u beauty, now hang on!

Never in doubt!!

Thompson off Devera on

Yes!!!
Needed that - need too keep up with Donny....

Now lets hang on FFS!

I said this last week before we scored the winner :)

2nd in the table as it stands

8,407 attendance.

How many there today?

Huge result as it stands, most teams near us dropping points

B'muff equalise against Donny

Walsall hit the bar.

Bournemouth equalise v. Donny!

Donny winning

This is a bit nerve wracking....again!

Donny back in front

And Donny retake the lead. Grrr.

We still have a game in hand of them and have to play them in a few weeks, its all in our hands.

Would rather Donny win this one to keep distance between us and the first place outside of POs. Plenty of time for Donny to slip up later.

Stirling 9 (NINE) - 1 East Stirling

What a derby game that it..

yep and slip up against us hopefully!

Happy enough to keep Bmuff furthert behind us.

FFS

boooo

Fuck it!

Fucking boo

Feck!

Now I want Boremuff to equalize!

fnrgh

would never have happened under Di Canio.

CUNT

Bum

oh shit!

Ball Bags.

And now at last they put us in 2nd place on the live table!!

Maybe they know we are going to score in the final minute of xtra time?

FT 2-2

Or maybe not!

The game was actually over about 30 seconds before you posted this :D

2 points lost :(

Not a terrible point. Was really hoping for 3 though.

Bummer but at least we ain't Bmuff eh?

Could be worse, agent Richie working his magic!

Fods and Flint at it!

Shame about the late goal but would have taken a point beforehand seeing as walsall are in great form!

Was Thompson tired/playing badly? Would have kept him on down the right

That Chippenham reporter! How difficult is it to get a job on Radio Wilts?

Flint sounded poor today, might be worth bringing Devera back alonside Ward. Both fullbacks sounded a bit poor today too.

It would appear if you can barely read, write and talk the job is yours.

Thompson appeared to be carrying an injury and struggled for most of the game.  Ironically he was left on until 5 minutes from the end and his replacement Devera cost us the goal.

Another 2 points dropped at home.  3 points out of the last 12 at home is absolute crap form.  If I'm honest anyone going up to the championship from this league is going to struggle.

Some cunts slagging off MacDonald on RS already-knob cheeses!

Unfuckingbelievable.

Picky picky !

:D

The KMac mumble:
- Doesnt matter whether we deserved it or not. It was 2-2
- Disappointed
- Got stretched and a good cross and finish and they scored the 2nd
- We gave them a point. They probably think they deserved it. We thought we deserved 3.
- Flint and Fodds. These things happen. You can tell off your best mates
- Disappointed. Penalty harsh. When we go in front twice we should win
- Need to turn to Tuesday now
- Important to do well at home. Its not for want of trying, but Walsall got a break.
- Not in 3rd without being a good side.
- Need to get heads down and work hard
- Do we need more recruits? Ummm? Dont know when we can get people in. He has one or two that he would like to bring in.
- Not as bad as people make out. Just disappointing that we didnt see the game through.
- Brentford will be desperate to turn their fortunes around

Ah thanks, heard devera cost the goal was wondering why Thompson was off in the first place.

Home form needs to improve massively

Win away draw at home-promotion form!

Disappointing game and very disappointed with the manager's reaction aftereards.  Definitely in the Malpass camp for passion, if he shows none how can the players show it!!  Thompson was injured during the second half making a tackle, right in front of the dug-outs.  Man of the match for me was McCormack but self-styled star of the match was the ref.  Some of his decisions were appalling, no surprise he gave them a penalty which didn't look at all like a pen, should have had a pen ourselves when Roberts was brought down, I had a horrible feeling he wasn't going to be happy until he had sent a Town player off!  What has happened to that in your face attacking and keeping them up the pitch.

I had wondered today if both Rooney's might start the game, after their impact at Coventry.

From the commentary we seem a bit lop-sided with only one natural wide player.

Definitely a bit narrow, Thomson was expected to provide the action down the right, and was then caught out of position a few times against their pace, not his fault though.

Meh, I think people are starting to realise that we have a very average squad which with some good management and a couple of additions will have enough to be up there in a very, very poor standard League. Make no mistake, that side out there today would get steamrollered at a higher level.

A few points:

- Aden Flint. He is a very limited footballer, isn't he? Devera and Ward is our best partnership at the back.

- A sloppy display by Tommy Miller capped off by a silly challenge to give away the penalty. The legs are long gone and he was lucky to last the 90 minutes. McCormack was decent on the other hand and deserved man of the match.

- The lack of width was ridiculous with Ferry out of position as it was last week - we scored twice when we reverted to proper wingers.

- Luke Rooney was very lively last week and set up the winner. Sub him on today? No, the ineffective De Vita came on instead. The match was crying out for someone like Rooney to come on and run at their defence. I had no problem with the Devera-Thompson sub, but it was bizzare that Rooney didn't get a run out.

- MacDonalds reaction to the post match question about new signings concerned me - he didn't sound positive at all. Why are we still under embargo if the new lot have the supposed backing that Jed promises? Time will tell but I am concerned we may see a 'shoe string' regime which will cost us any chance of promotion to the Championship.

- Walsall are much improved from the side we faced earlier in the season and fully deserved the point they got.

MacDonald thinking we deserved to win  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

A point against a good in form team is not to be scoffed at.

That said, don't think we deserved all 3 myself, though we did start to pin them back in the second half.

On the negative, not sure the system worked today, its a sort of 2-1-3-4 formation, with Roberts sort of floating. But you end up with square pegs in round holes, biggest example being Ferry. Thought we should have brought RDV on, Miller off and gone 4-4-2 with Macca and Ferry central.

Another thing. The players looked largely lethargic today. No high energy pressing.

Match Summary: Didn't think it was a penalty myself, but I didn't get a clear long look at it. Both our goals had a touch of fortune. Wes nearly gave me a heart attack when he flapped at the (admittedly unusual) high ball. Flint, Ward, Macca were good.

Hey ho, onward and onward.

Didn't enjoy that at all. Home form has turned into shit. I'm glad for the travelling fans who seem to be getting the good stuff.
Walsall didn't look like a good form team and we were no better.

We never seem to click without Ferry in the middle. Asides from Coventry.

Good to see us try and pass the ball, but we didn't look threatening going forward, nor did we look particularly solid at the back. Macca had a good game, but otherwise the midfield didn't fire. It was lop-sided (intentionally) and really limited us as an attacking force. I hope that it is just a case of personnel rather than a long term plan to play narrow.

Disappointing again today. I thought Walsall were poor and offered nothing really. The trouble is we weren't much better ourselves. I would have liked to see us go for it a bit more in the second half.

I'm fully behind K Mac and the lads but would like to see more urgency that we saw today. Oh well on to Tuesday.

Frustrated as hell after that, thought after we regained the lead at 2-1 we'd done the business but disappointed to conceed an 89th minute goal! Home form has turned into a place we are scared to get results...the old cliche is win your home games and get a point away, it seems the opposite for us! I do believe we'll make the play offs, whether we can get anything more depends on the next 4 games!

One home game in charge and people on here and elsewhere criticising the manager for a lack of passion.

I don't even have a gif for that.

edit: this comment from thisis just says it all really

Disappointed like many on here today. The draw felt like a loss for me. Although it could've been worse. Some of the passing was woeful today, the penalty changed the game. The ref was fucking awful. I will judge Kmac at the end of the season. I also do wonder what game the people who text in after were watching. Ah well bring on Brentford.

Walsall should have won, best side we've played at home. We gave the ball away so much, they used it much better and hardly misplaced a pass. Also what was apparent was the difference in pace between the two sides; they had a front 6 of quick players and we struggled with their counter attacks (numerous times because we gave the ball away so much)

Next game we should play Foderingham, Thompson, Devera, Ward, McEveley, Roberts, Ferry, McCormack, Rooney, Rooney, Williams.
Collins, Roberts, Flint and Miller were shocking today, so many out of form players for us at the moment but no one to replace them with. Wouldn't mind their LM Paterson, gave Thompson a torrid time. We desperately need some pace in the side, apart from Williams, Thompson, Devera and Storey our players are slow. I suggest the Fifa Ultimate Team tactic of pace-whoring.

Thought Flint was one of our better performers, and Collins was better than Williams myself! And Devera - not pacey in my book. Opinions eh!

Fods had a poor game by his standards though, but it didn't cost us.

We need a few bodies. Simple as that

I thought Walsall were a decent side going forward but shit at the back. They looked like scoring every time they came forward  but saying that, apart from their goals, they didn't work Fods who was very eccentric today.
The first half was very even. I thought it was a penatly for them but so was Roberts for us. The secod half was virtually all ours. i agree with KMac, i thought we did deserve to win but poor defending cost us.
I think we've got to remember that this was KMac second game and he's radically altered the midfield and they are adjusting. At times it looked good, at other times crap but a shitload better than against Bury or PNE.
Its disappointing today but we played a very good team and nearly got lucky, which has been lacking all season.
Not sure who was MOM - Macca maybe. Roberts was poor but he's palying in a different position. JMac was crap. Nathan had nobody in front of him to stop their pacy counter attacks and this was their main danger that should have been closed earlier. Williams really is an enigma - he's got so much going for him but really needs a big dose of "man the fuck up". He's done well for us but theres' so much more
Looking forward to Brentford - a proper ground.

@JedMcCoy: @swindon_tim early next week .. Loans lined up guys ... 3/4 ..

Early next week is reference to getting out of embargo.

I'm starting to hate a sizeable proportion of our home fans who enjoy nothing more than moaning and offering no verbal encourage to the team.

Thankfully they won't be there on Tuesday as our core away support are decent sorts

If only we could get that 3,000 at Coventry sat in the same place at home.

I think Flint is a very limited footballer, were it not for his height he wouldn't be in playing at this level. He just hoofs the ball, has an awful first touch and his ball control is poor in general, would much rather see Devera partnering Ward. Collins would be a decent striker if he had a bit of pace. How often do you see Collins chasing a ball and not getting to it first, never seen him outpace a defender. At least Williams can take on a man and create something out of nothing (although his finishing is terrible)

This, so many people get on the players backs when we're not playing well. The players' reaction after the 2nd goal said it all, they wanted more support from the crowd and less moaning. The atmosphere in the first half was awful from us, not until Walsall started taking the mick out of our fans did we sing, and very little at that.

Didn't enjoy that. I felt Warsaw were fitter and faster than us and quicker to the 50/50s than we were. Nobody played well but Macca (2nd half) was more deserving of MOTM then Ferry, who needs to go back to the centre of midfield. There's a couple of players (Jay Mac and Miller) who really shouldn't be in the side at the moment. Both can't pass to save their lives, although I'll give Jay Mac credit for improving in the last 20 minutes. Roberts was frustrating, as usual. The rest were plain average.

The ref and linesman on the DRS side were quite special. I don't think they were biased, just plain crap. Booking the wrong Walsall player says it all.

I'm not keen on the narrow formation Kmac plays. It may well work eventually but the players have played the Di Canio way for the past 2 seasons and perhaps now is not the time to change things radically. Having watched the last two games the passing has certainly improved, so he deserves credit for that.

Anyway, we're better away and Brentford are having a dip. There's no reason why we shouldn't collect 3 points on Tuesday. Can't wait.

Oh, and my season ticket sorted for next season. I've moved to the centre of the DRS. I could be next to you  :D

We were good in patches, but as others said lopsided with no natural width, and the energy levels / high tempo of the team seems to have dropped in recent games. Thompson was frequently doing the  work of two on his side, Fodds didnt seem on his game today, slow to kick and nearly cost us a goal when Flint was shepherding the ball back to him. Need loan signings quickly - centre midfield, left back and a forward to offer competition and something different to try and push on.

I'd happilly have Benson back from 'Nam.

I would bring Benson back tomorrow, for that matter I would also try and bring Caddis back now the main problem with him has left the club.

Also reading on the Plymuff forums they are very impressed by Cox in midfield, they are saying he is the only one showing any effort....why not give him a chance to prove a point at Swindon.

As Meatloaf says "2 out of 3 ain;t bad". Benson - yes, Caddis - yes. cox - no way fucking Scummer.

Don't disagree with that.

Having been unable to get to Coventry last week due to family bereavement, I was looking forward to watching my first game under new management, it has left me unconvinced.  I will not jump on KMacs back as he has not had the chance to really work with the players, I cant, however, forgive him the Wilsonesque arms folded, lack of enthusiasm stance that was adopted during the game today.  I was not expecting the histrionics we have got used to with he who shall remain nameless, I was, though, expecting more from the man than we saw today.  i honestly believe that the current crop of players react better to some kind of managerial motivation from the sidelines and think that they look to their leader for inspiration, this, I think, was lacking today.  The team performance was not the worst, Bury last week wins that hands down, but it was far from anything like as well as we can perform.  Walsall, to their credit, were much improved on the side we battered at the Bescot earlier in the season.  Mcceveley looked like a man who had never played local league football, let alone the professional game, where has our width gone? Simon Ferry, out of position, looked for an out, but time and time again we were lavking out wide.  I think that Williams and Collins put in every effort, but they are not a partnership and are really lacking any cutting edge.  I had hoped after his "bundled" goal last week AW would push on, he is, I think, one of the few squad players, along with Raffa, who are really missing PDC`s influence.  We a great opportunity to gain promotion and should we fail, I think it will be several years until we are in a position to challenge as strongly as we can this year.  A new dawn? too early to tell.  Although not convinced at the moment, I will still be at Griffin park on Tuesday and will continue to give KM and the team my full suppoort until the last ball is kicked at scunny, all I ask of KM is please show some passion and help the fans help the team over the finish line. COYR

FWIW we were brilliant at Coventry with quick passes leaving them chasing shadows. Today was frustrating but lets see how it pans out.

Four points out of six with an inherited side is decent.promotion form even.

There is only one PDC, and whoever followed on from him was never going to match him for visible displays of passion or enthusiasm...or try to, for that matter.  So I wouldn't try to make the comparison.

True to say, certainly, that his media style is very different.  I've not really been wowwed by anything that KM has said, either in the press or on the radio after the game.  But people who know him seem to respect the way he goes about his business.  Four points from six is not a bad start...despite the disapointment we're all feeling at dropping two points so late on today.

I don't buy this whole 'If a manager isn't going mental on the sideline, he doesn't care' shite!

Both full backs were awful today, and I really hope that Devera replaces Flint ASAP as he's awful.

I was in the club shop yesterday and asked the question about caddis coming back, he said caddis is contracted to brum til the end of the season :hmmm:

YOU CANNOT RECALL FULL SEASON LOANEES

It's been confirmed several times over that Benson, Caddis and Cox are all with their respective loan clubs until the end of the season without a recall clause.

:nod:

who is 'he'?

You use the club shop as a sauce?

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS

Walsall deserved a draw to be fair.
Average performance with Macca the MOM.

Dropping points at home is not good with difficult away games coming up.
Still other teams dropping points. Blue Rinsers losing 5 on trot and nobody would expected that.

Brentford away then. A tough one and I would settle for a point.

It's a weird season.

I would not be surprised if we pick up 6 points from the next 2 games. Our away form is fantastic.

I feel more confident at the moment of us picking up a win on our travels.  It might work in our favour that we've got more away games left than home ones.

Just got back & read through most of this thread.

We came close to losing last week, but got 2 late goals to get the win, only when we changed the formation and had 2 natural wingers & a solid shape (eventually).  So I agree with some of the posters who state that L Rooney or Rafa should have started or at least should have made an appearance (Rooney).  Walsall were OK, with loads of pace up front, but I thought Ward & Flint did well against them.  Flint is a big old fashioned centre half, wins everything in the air, but can't play the ball.  Ferry is not a winger & to be fair he doesn't play there, as he drifts in field, we looked unbalanced again with N Thompson playing RB & RW, with his early booking effecting his commitment imo.

Miller & Jay Mac are 2 weaknesses in the team at the moment with neither contributing very much & need to be replaced.  And btw it was A Rooney who gave the ball away carelessly for their 2nd, they broke down our right with ease, crossed & scored, Thompson may have defended it better if he was on, but Devera was left exposed.

With Kmac adopting different tactics, I'm not sure this will hold us in good stead for the run in, we've played in a style that PDC created & I'm not sure we've got enough games left to tamper with our playing style given the size of the squad?  Hope I'm wrong.

I go home and away, and the atmosphere at home is poor at the moment, I think we lifted the team last week & Tranmere to fight til the end, but I don't think we're doing that at home.

Lastly, I never criticise refs, but Drysdale really is a cock!

Agree with this, the DRS was pretty solemn today, even the townend demanding a song was ignored!

Our defence, which used to seem so solid, looks fragile at the moment - I almost expect an almighty cock-up every game now.

Walsall got behind us too much for my liking.

Don't understand the anti-Flint stuff - for me he is what a League 1 stopper is supposed to be - no nonsense, head or kick it away.

Thought Walsall should have had a 2nd penalty in the second half as well and was impressed with them.

Cant honestly see how or what is going to get us out of the home form slump.

And who is the Spurs player supposedly coming on loan?

Flint has done very well for us and doesn;t deserve too much grief. this is his 2nd season as a professional and the first at this level and he's done bloody well.

I used the club shop as sauce once....never again....my father is more factual.....

Back to Daddies.

Sounds like you've been on the sauce, flashster.

A few sides who have come to the CG recently have been there for the taking but thought Walsall deserved their point today. They missed a couple of sitters and worked hard from the 1st to the last whistle. We got a bit of luck for both of our goals and looked out of sorts today so a point in the end is all I thought we deserved. This issue with the embargo is just strange, either we want to strengthen ASAP  and give it our best shot or we don't. At the moment I can't make out what these new owners want.

I saw Mark Cooper giving a lot of vocal from the bench today behind KMac, I think this management team will pull us through and think it will go down to Scunthorpe (A) for the last 2 Auto places, I think if we can remain where we are and in touch with Doncaster then we won't go far wrong. Home form against Notts County and Oldham must improve if we are to take an auto place, and also pick up some points from Brentford/Yeovil! A big few weeks lie ahead until the end of March lets crack on, support the guys and see where we get to! C.O.Y.R!!!

Not a great game.

Never really clicked for us, looked shakey at the back. I would like to see Devera back on Tuesday. It just doesn't seem to be happening for us at home.

Oh, the ref was a cunt.

They don't know what to respond with now Paolo has gone

After the way the game went last week at Coventry I'm amazed that firstly Simon Ferry continued on the right wing and secondly after changing the game for the better Luke Rooney didnt even get on the pitch....

yes, it was quite noticeable, from the off, that every misplaced pass was greeted with moans. Maybe it's because if you only go to home games, you haven't seen us win since the middle of January...

Why is this thread sticking at the top of 'show recent updates since last visit' ?

Macca and Ferry were great, a tireless effort from both of them.

Didn't think it was a penalty, Miller got the ball, although it was a sloppy challenge.
We didn't deserve to win the game, Walsall looked decent, they were fit, sharp and closing us down at every opportunity, their centre backs didn't give our strikers a sniff. Williams didn't get a chance to use his pace. When he gets the opportunity to run at opponents, his pace can cause problems, didn't see any of that today.

MacDonald needs to change the shape, drop Miller, put McCormack and Ferry in the middle and bring another winger into the first XI. It was all very narrow, and we weren't very threatening going forward and created few chances.

For the first time in a while, our defending made me nervous, they didn't look assured at the back.
McEveley doesn't fill me with confidence, and i'd bring Devera in now instead of Flint.

We looked half decent when we got the ball down and passed it about, like we did at Coventry, but Walsall were tight and closed us down very quickly.

On the whole, happy with a point, even though their equaliser was in the 90th minute.

I agree entirely with this. Have to add though I couldn't listen to post-match interviews, as the large majority of texts they read out in between piss me off no end. Some people are fucking idiots.

Also agree with Spud - lack of animation does not equal lack of passion/enthusiasm. Utter bullshit.

Not a  great game  but i was quite impressed with walsall , looked to have what we lacked which was lots of pace upfront . Our defence was sloppy and i knew they would score at the end and they probably just about deserved a point . Ref was a total cock as was linesman on DRS side who seemed to guess what was going on rather than know.
And a shout out to their number 9 who after scoring decided to celebrate in front of the town fans , what a  cunt .

I agree totally with you on all of that.

As for the penalty...alan mac said it was a blatant penalty....so for me it definately wasn't :D

Very impressed by the way Walsall committed men forward and broke with pace in numbers yesterday, yet remained solid and compact at the back. Fully deserving of a draw.

Miller and Mceverly liabilities. I actually think we need 4 players on loan to compete, a LB to replace Mceverly, a CM to replace Miller, a CF to compete with our out of form frontline, and a winger to actually deliver some crosses to them.

The most worrying thing for me was for once a team looked fitter and more energetic than us over 90 minutes. We looked dead on our feet for the last 15. I hope the fitness regime instituted by Di Canio, which in my opinion is his most important legacy to this team, isn't going to be altered in any way for the end of season push.

We have a CM to replace Miller, currently residing on the right wing.

yeppers

I'm wondering if maybe KMAC doesn't rate L Rooney and wants his best players on the pitch. It's obvious he rates Ferry more as a winger than he rates Rooney as a winger, which is quite a statement considering Ferry isn't a winger.

Once we get the lad from spurs in, assuming it happens, I reckon we'll have Ferry back working his mojo in the middle

I think Rooney is probably short of match fitness, so Kmac isn't bringing him back in fully just yet (and just chose De Vita over Rooney yesterday as he thought he was a better fit for the job he wanted done - De Vita is better defensively). And it's early days also, I would imagine he is just trying to see what works and what doesn't - hopefully 'Ferry on the wing' is one of the things he sees as not working.

Rooney's fitness must be pretty shocking if he hasn't trained properly for most of the season.

The lad from Spurs prefers to play as a left winger according to Spurs fans, unless he plays the right wing left footed role that Ritchie played so well.

If the deal happens of course.

I'd like to see Macca and Ferry in the middle with De Vita and Rooney/Roberts on the wing. Miller looks well past his best and needs a few games out.

Dropping Flint for Devera would be harsh, but if Thompson's out I guess Devera will play full back. Jay Mac plays by default. We need a new left back and covering central midfielder, and fast!

Thought the game was there for the taking for either side yesterday, both sides played some good football in spells, Walsall were quite wasteful with their chances, whereas we never worked their keeper enough. I've yet to see the penalty again but I had a pretty good angle at the time and I'm convinced it was never a penalty in a million years.
Once again Adam Rooney makes a big contribution when he came on, really about time he got to start a game imo.

Once we get a few bodies in and freshen things up, we can push on again. None of this settling for enjoying the rest of the season bullshit. We've got a promotion to win.

And a winger, assuming we don't intend playing 2-1-3-4 or (whatever it was) until the end of the season. We do have Nevaro, Miller, Ferry and Macca for central midfield. Could do with another ball player though.

It was nice to see us playing some football at home after the hapless hoofball we had to endure in the previous 2 home games. Walsall have been on a decent run of form, something like 21 points from their last 10 games.

A Walsall supporting mate was very impressed with us.  Liked that we passed the ball and we're quick to get it in the box.  Also, he thought that their penalty was never a pen.  I told him we were unbalanced and have played a lot better this season.  Like many others I hope MacDonald drops this lop-sided formation.

26 points from the last 11 games Si. Now thats 27 points in 12 games....we are now on 24 points from the last 13 games. They are a real form team.

That puts yesterday into even more perspective.

We'll have to grind out some results or hope for a bit of luck in the coming weeks, what with playing so many teams in and around us.

I thought Luke Rooney was being prepared to come on, but the injury to Thompson scuppered that idea,

Dare I say at times we looked a little undisciplined and quite ragged. Towards the end we seemed all over the place. Not convinced by wes's attempts at dribbling away from strikers as well!!

Though Walsall deserved a point and thought miller and jmac were pretty terrible.

We don't currently have the players to play macdonald's way of playing so the loan signings will be key!

Also is the man of the match default setting stuck on Simon ferry? He always gets it at the games I attend! He worked hard but far from brilliant yesterday.

Having just watched the L1 show from last night, I'm convinced Miller played the ball, Drysdale (Ref) was right next to him as well.

Both Doncaster & Tranmere were also fortunate due to some poor reffereeing.

Drysdale was absolute shite!!  Twice he allowed them to take corners when the ball was nothing like touching the quadrant, he allowed the pen even though the ball was in front of the actual spot - and I'm convinced it wasn't even a pen, he even got the basics wrong like throw-ins although we got away with a blatant hand-ball, but they did several times.  Roberts went past his man in the penalty area and was brought down, it's either a pen or Roberts is booked for diving!!  And all this is just in the first half.  I am convinced that if they hadn't have equalised when they did another pen would have been in the offing!!

The amount of bookings was criminal, it was far from a dirty game! Also, their 29 was a right dick.
Went down feigning injury and stayed down whilst we
Attacked, seemed like even his own players weren't even bothered that he was on the ground!!

The ref gave a throw in to Walsall when the whole drs could hear the deflection, he was a total imbecile!

Who is the Spurs player we're supposedly bringing in?

Cristian Ceballos

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/394851/20121016/tottenham-spurs-barcelona-star-cristian-ceballos.htm

Drysdale seemed to be a ref demanding he was in control from both the players and his other officials.  He kept doing a little motion around his ears when players tried to talk to him which seemed to imply that he wouldnt listen.  He also didnt let his linos make any decisions, they were reliant on him pointing the way.  

On the pen, I could see why there's was given but it does look like Miller got the ball on the replay.  I couldnt really see whether Roberts should have had a pen in the first half as I was at the other end of the DRS.  My impression from that distance was we should have had a pen.  

Generally, the ref was shit.  Just for a change.

Not the first time I've heard that.

Everytime we had a corner, Flint had up to three players around him and holding him back,so should've had a pen each time.

Westcarr (29) was a diving cunt along with Brandy, and falls down at every opportunity. Saying that I wish Williams would not do exactly the same. Goes down too easily. but the refs don't normally fall for it.

Flint missed a header from a corner but his shirt was pulled so much it was ridiculous.

Williams isn't 'nasty' enough.  Great player but he just lacks that extra to his game.  Cant lead a line.

Regardless of whether it was a penalty or not, I dont think Miller needed to make the tackle like he did. Just gives the ref the opportunity to give a penalty when any potential shot would have been blocked anyway.

Unlike Charlie

I was very impressed with Charlie when he came back earlier this season.  He definitely had developed, become bigger, stronger and could be a target man playing up front alone.

I thought i was being clever - line - Charlie. I should have known it would by pass a non curry eating Batty Boy.

You're just to clever for me you big rough tough curry boy.

Ha ha, well played. I will be partaking of a particularly hot curry tomorrow night. In the process of cooking my wife a nice casserole at the mo.

Cooking?  You big poof.

Don't try and deflect your sexual proclivities on to me.

It's alright Sax, I promise not to tell him you drink green tea.

That cheating twat didn't need an opportunity, he was determined to give them something all the time.

Just seen the highlights

Poor defending for their 2nd. There was nobody anywhere near him.

Pretty much a free header wasn't it. To be honest they'd looked threatening on the break most of the match.

Seen highlights....brandy went down cheap but diving challenge all the same and our shout wasn't shown.

However you dress it up they deserved a point.

Williams' goal resulted in a burst down the right, albeit 2nd attempt he got his shot away & scored.  Anyone else think  he's a better winger than striker?

Not sure. His crossing wasn't great Saturday.

Yeah they did, didn't they. It's why I felt much less disheartened at losing the late goal than I did coming out of the Hartlepool game for example - thought the draw was a fair result.

Do need to win the rest of our home games now, but you can't be too distraught at dropping points against a good side in excellent form.

Thought Devera looked a bit ring rusty when he came on at RB, would like to see our best centre back pairing of him and Ward in until the end of the season, hopefully that might help eradicate the couple of defensive errors that have slipped into our games recently.

We still looked a danger going forward, we just need a few bodies in so the likes of Williams can get a rest - thought he looked knackered towards the end.

Also I personally feel happier when we play two proper wide men wide, especially as Roberts drifts infield to receive the ball - so with Ferry playing narrow it left the full backs exposed on more than one occasion. Not like we've looked too shoddy the two matches Ferry has played on the wing though.

Onwards to Brentford anyway, be good to nick a win there if we can before travelling to Yeovil who have won about their last 8 home games.

Nobodies crossing seems to be good at the moment. JMac especially has an annoying habit of getting into good overlapping positions and shanking his cross out of play. He's not alone though, this happened 3 times in the second half by 3 different people which was irritating!

JMac has this annoying habit of being shit at the moment

Can't really argue with that. From being an International left back (only Scotland I know) he has really disappointed me. Perhaps my hopes were too high, based on the fact he has played internatinal football.

Lukas Magera anyone?

Jmac has been shit for ages, it's just not been so obvious with the rest of the team doing well.

Time to get a little self-righteous as I said this ages ago.

I think Jmac is a good player, but he's not been on form since his injury really. its the distribution that has gone to pot.

He did have a good 15 or 20 minutes later in the game on Saturday though.

He suffers from the defensive left full back curse. Because he isn't that good at going forward and getting crosses in everyone thinks he is shit. He is a brilliant defender.

Yeah, that's a decent point.

He's a full back though, he needs to be able to do both or technically he is pretty shit. It's not 1958

Probably why he is a league 1 defender

[url width=480 height=360]http://www.pictureshack.us/images/57608_nope_full.gif[/url]

Due to a shortage of left-footed players, the natural left footers tend to be much higher up the pyramid than their right-footed counterparts.

Case in point: Stuart Downing.

also known as the Jamie Vincent effect

Which itself is just a complication of Nigel Winterburn disease ...

I couldn't disagree more, I think he's our biggest defensive liability by far.

Lacks concentration and commitment, almost NEVER puts in a challenge like Thompson one on one to win the ball against a winger, just backs off and lets them deliver a cross whenever they want (seen this so many times away from home, and that's only in the half i can see properly when it's down our end), plays under hit suicide passes back to Wes from ridiculous positions, has a bad attitude to ref's that gets him unnecessary bookings, never aware of where attacking players are coming into the box around him at the far post, but the most criminal thing by far in my opinion is that out of all our players, like Sheehan and Rose before him, he looks like one of those players who just doesn't care, shrugging off his sloppy passes and fuck ups and making the same errors of basic concentration and footballing good sense again and again before shouting at his fellow defenders to pass on the blame.

It genuinely worries me based on what we've seen this season that some of our fans think he's a good defender, as I think this is the position that most urgently needs addressing by Mack the Knife in the loan market.

The biggest defensive liability in the team with arguable the best defense in the Football League? I'll take that.

He has nobody to compete against him in the squad though, knows he's gonna get picked whatever.  Was better when he had competition snapping at his heals or keeping him out of the team...

You're saying he's better when he isn't playing then?  ;D

Just reading the report in the Adver - I really must go to Specsavers asap, they say it was Luke Rooney who came on for Collins and compound it with his picture!!  Now just where did I put my specs?

You could have hit the nail on the head there.

I think my opinion of him has unarguably been coloured by how I read his attitude, which has always seemed questionable but has got even worse without competition, and I don't think many would argue he's had a notable downturn in form all over the pitch from where he was at the end of last season/ start of this coinciding with this.

Bring back Cibocchi i say! (or alternatively a better full back who can replace him outright).

That's because he doesn't need to, he pushes the winger wider and wider and he doesn't give the winger the option to take him on and wingers do rarely get past him. Defensively he is very good, just when he joins the attack is when I feel uneasy about him. He's a defender first though.

I'd also agree wingers don't often run past him, but that it's because they don't have to when he offers them enough space to bypass him with an early cross anyway. If he positioned himself to block those crosses instead of dangling a leg out then watching them fly past him into the box for the rest of the defence to deal with i'd support his approach but when he's neither stopping the ball come in nor winning the ball back for us i can't see how it's benefiting us.

Maybe though my opinion has become overly biased by my dislike of how i read his attitude, and i've been focussing too much on the negative things i see him do rather than the defensively positive things that everyone else sees him do.

Will try and play close, objective attention on Tuesday to how his approach works up against the winger from Brentford.

Every time I've seen Jaymac play, from his first appearance at Wembley against Colchester, he isn't that great defensively, and his attacking his awful. It's made worse by the fact he's often stuck out of position when the ball breaks back to the other end, and he doesn't read the game well enough to track back in time.

I would be able to forgive him his poor attacking performance as, as people have said, he is probably just in that role of a defensive full back as opposed to a more modern defensive winger. But that he lets his defensive game be scuppered through it is not good enough. I think Almac has been our best left-back this season.

Kennedy and Cibo were two committed players who acquitted themselves well in defence, closing down angles, putting in tackles, and getting in the way when needs be, who coupled that defensive nouse with some brilliant runs forward in support of their winger, and would then track back at appropriate times to protect against an opponent hitting us on the break. I'm not saying they were perfect, they did have some howlers here and there, as is kind of to be expected with any player, but I would take one of those two over Jaymac every time.

I remember vividly Kennedy's performance against Wigan in the FA Cup last year. Superb. A Newcastle-supporting mate with me at the game was amazed nobody really rated him.

I would prefer to see JayMac as a centre back, the position he started his career at with Everton and Blackburn.

I meant Chesterfield, sssh.

You sure you don't mean Scunthorpe?

Is he at Chesterfield now?

I was referring to Jaymac's first appearance at Wembley in the JPT.

Doh! I completely misread! Apologies!