Thetownend.com

I'll go a scrappy 2-1 win

I wouldn't be surprised by another defeat today. Colchester are the form side and we seem to be 'in transition' / 'don't know what we're doing'.

Having said that, we've got the quality to win.

Also hoping for a scrappy 2-1.

If we can work out how to bring our front men into the game, and how to use Ajose properly, and that square pegs don't fit into round holes then we may well do that.

Its going to be interesting to see how hamstrung Cooper is with personnel (loan) selections given last weeks disastrous lineup wasn't a crowning glory.

I played out a scrappy 2-1 on Fifa 16 last night. It is written.

Obika and Ojamaa turning it round after going behind early in the 2nd half.

Our form against Colchester isn't the best, but I'll go for a win today and the start of more positive progress.

2-1

One of Colchester's twin towns is Imola in Italy of F1 fame. I say that we will put the last chequered couple of weeks aside and race into a 2-0 lead and keep it until the finishing line. Otherwise it will be the pits and I will sit with hands in my lap.

Their games have also been quite high scoring this season, so that suggests a few goals, i'll go for a 3-2 victory.

1-0 defeat

Going to be at my uncle and aunt's golden wedding anniversary today in East Sussex so another game missed!

Bearing in mind the last 2 times I missed games for weddings we won 5-2 and 4-1 so even though I think we'll lose, it wouldn't surprise me if we won handsomely.

I usually look forward to games but if I hadn't got McCoy tickets for this one I may well not have bothered after last week's horror show.

We can't, just can't, play such shit again, surely. Blind faith says 3-2.

I cannot get any worse than last week! That's not a challenge Chuckles!

A shit win would do....

By 5.00, lets hope that Cooper's Formula won

Heads dropping already in fairly typical style - looking forward to the bloke in the Arkells barking out `rubbish` at the top of his voice ever 5 minutes - twat - keep the faith people we will win at least 2-1 - Burton are a good side mark my words. What a glorious day......

I can think of a few inept displays v ColU down the years. 

Todays game is very important, a point wouldn't be the worst in the world, but another home defeat, would set the alarm bells ringing. 

3 home loses on the spin, is definitely the stuff of a season of struggle. Atm we're a point worse off than the Wilson/Hart season.

2 all for me providing we remember where the goal is

So, with options from last week's shit-fest, who faces Cooper's axe?

What's the formation?

Will it a make a jot of difference?

Vig
Barry Williams Branco Turnbull
Traore
Ojamaa Robert Thompson
Thomas Ajose

With a free hand I'd go

                  vig
Barry? Turnbull Branco Brophy
Kassim Thompson  Robert
        Ajose
      Obika Thomas

 

Hope for an unlikely 2-0 win

A goal would be nice!!.  1-1.

Has Sir Pissalot closed his account or have I missed something?

It will click at some point & why not today? Our style has become predictable and teams have learnt how to beat us, however, we must have learnt from our previous 2 games and have the players to turn this round.  Big win for us 4-0.

3-5-2 today then.

Vig dropped!

No Obika in squad!

Hmmm...

Very strange bench.

is obika re-injured? vig is an odd one

yep, obika is injured

First game since Wembley for me...I'm sorry in advance.

soapy tit wank.

fiddlesticks

If it is 3/5/2 and he's playing our 'creative' players as wing backs neither of which is a defender then it seems risky!

Miles notches for Caly against the league leaders

This isn't good.  The crowd are already starting to get on the players back.  Cooper also looks a bit disinterested.  Arms folded or hands in pockets.

shambles

Equaliser.

Still doesn't sound particularly good.

Well done Wesley.

Someone has just tweeted that they've heard 'by the bloke who sponsors Nath' that if we don't win, cooper is gone.. Hmm..

First sighting of the season?

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Humph, Thomas out with a hamstring. looks like a 4-6 weeker to me

settled down a bit. but  not exactly vintage. look dodgy defending it wide, that's 3 at the back for you

Behind again. Defence STILL the problem.

got what we deserved. not convinced by balford on either goal either

Nice move but shocking goal keeping to get beat at the near post

Dog shit  :doh: :cry: ::)

Ojaama looks great going forward but has no idea how to play as a wingback.

Ajose is putting in one of the worst performances I've ever seen and apparently he's better than last week?

Yasser and Louis look good together, Hylton has livened it up and Robert has been a threat when he's been able to get involved. 

Some of the comments from around me in the DRS make me wonder if they enjoy us losing more than winning

Better than last week, which isn't difficult.
They look quicker than us and there finishing has been better.
We've had chances but Thomas, Ojamma & Ajose have all missed good chances.

I agree. The idiot behind me shouting 'get it forward'and 'get it on the floor' and 'fuck off cooper' needs to be careful he doesn't get thrown down the stairs in the second half.

he's hit well enough, but disappointing to be beat there true enough.

ojaama not doing enough for me forward or defending, but he's in good company.

I used to enjoy football sonic. getting pretty bored of lacklustre effort and of poor defending though. sheff u aside it's a carry over since Easter

His demeanor today is definitely not good.  

It's just not working out there. Turnbull is struggling, Kasim keeps slowing it down, Ajose keeps giving the ball away and Ojaama doesn't seem to want to stay wide and keeps coming into the middle, which is already congested.  It's disorganised and certainly not enjoyable to watch.

odd sub, should have been Louis

The limited posts on here suggest everyone has lost interest as Cooper also appears to have done. I suppose after the chaos in the summer with the will he won't he leave this is not unexpected.

Think it's time for Cooper to move on and give someone else a chance

I'm finding shopping with the wife more interesting than watching this team. That's how bad things are.

Still to early for the panic button. However, i'm at this moment not feeling as much guilt that we gave up our season tickets. I still intend to see the town this season, indeed i did go to the league cup game but right now i have other things that have priority.

Oh lord... how fickle we are...

He's had a team sold from under him and left with almost a whole new team to bed in and get working.

I'm happy to give him till the end of the season - so long as we dont nosedive, but bump along.

The worry for me is the dodgy team and subs. Why play Robert and Ojaama as wing backs, you know they will get exposed. We've abandoned the 4 at the back we planned to play this season when that's what we have the players for. Then he subs Kasim and Robert, Kasim by all accounts one of our better players and Robert the only one who has really created something all season.

Also why the GK change? What did Vig do wrong, don't remember him making a mistake in the last couple of games. (just seen its a disc matter apparently, fair enough)

Shame as we started well with a shallow squad and now we have all the players he doesn't seem to have a clue how to set them up and get the best out of them. Players out of position, particularly Robert who should be the nailed on number 10.

So Vigo's been a naughty boy then?

Very difficult to know where we go from here. It's obvious that whatever, if any, defensive drills we do are having no effect.

Individually, the defenders are decent enough so it's got to be down to how we are set up - and the buck stops with Cooper and Williams.

I can see no reason how and why the pathetic defending is ever going to change and I don't really buy into all this 'gelling' bollocks.

Sadly, I think it's time for a manager change.

The positives today were Hylton, he's going to be a cracking player, Brophy has tons of potential and we still look pretty good going forward.

If we get beat by Blackpool next week, Coops is a goner.

Heard something happened in training during the week

Vigaroux didn't play due to an internal disciplinary matter according to Cooper. I wonder if we might have seen the last of him?

I hope not, because Belford doesn't fill me with confidence.

The Kasim sub was very strange.  He was clearly not happy, as went straight down the tunnel.

Hylton ran around a lot and did very little else. Can't fault his energy but his consistently poor decisions cost us again and again. If Brophy is our best full back then we're fucked.

Belford is Griemink reincarnated - glued to his line and can't kick.

We've already nosedived

17th wasn't what I envisaged that's for sure.

Power has invested in this squad and is obviously not 100% convinced by Cooper.

Right that was infuriating.

So slow, poor in the final third when we eventually got there and exposed very easily at the back. Highlighted for me when branco or williams charged forward with the ball about 30/40 metres but had no runners, no movement and lost the ball.

Robert needs to play in behind the front two, not out wide. Traore was pretty poor so dont understand why kasim was taken off and not him. Ojamma was very dissapointing and reminded me today of alan o'brian - runs all day, very quick but no end product. Ajose and hylton as a front two is a bit worrying as they are both so small and we cant hold the ball upfront.

I'd rather play 352 as we can't defend for shit regardless of formation and at least today we did look threatening at times. Ojamma and ajose should both have scored from a few yards out.

Colchester had the game plan anyone use against us and it worked once again, decent side I thought.

Assuming thomas is out and no players back for Tuesday I'd go for this as my 11:

Vig
Branco williams turnbull
Kasim louis
ojamma robert boo/brophy
Ajose hylton

One word review: tedious

One sentence tactical analysis: Square pegs, round holes.

blimey if you think that, youve got a short memory  ;)

The most glaring example of our players out of natural positions was Ojamma, who was almost non-existent  defensively, and it allowed Colchester to dominate on that side, which set the pattern for the game early on.

Maybe, but as I said earlier lose this and the alarm bells are ringing, which they most definitely now are. 

Talk of sacking Cooper is frankly ridiculous, this was always going to be a difficult campaign, where getting to 52 is the target and hopefully see some of the players develop, and as such patience is required.

Why buy a winger/striker and play him at wing back. To get 2 up front? nobody was crying out for that. Get as many players in to their best positions as possible.

Gash  :badmood:

Can't understand why took Kasim and Robert off but left Ojaama on for whole 90 minutes. Thought Williams deserved mom and  Thompson and Ajose both better than last week. Really missed Thomas after he went off - Hylton lots of effort but endless wrong decisions and no end product. Balmy and Brophy both getting game time is a bit of a worry for me both got potential but just emphasises to me lack of focus and control this season compared to last. Real lack of quality on show today. We are badly missing Nathan Byrne imho. How long is Obika out for?

It's getting so frustrating how bad we are defensively. Week in, week out we concede cheap goals and have to work so hard to score ourselves. Burton have got it right, and that's why they're top

All very well saying 'have patience' but the defensive side of our game has been our achilles heel for ages - and nothing has changed, it's actually got worse.

If Cooper can't come up with a way of sorting it out, then let somebody else try.

Problem with any managerial change is there wont be many who would accept the 'Power' way of doing things.

This. You win leagues or get promoted by being solid defensively first. The only time we keep clean sheets are luck really.

I'm sure you say stuff like that just to wind me up.  There's no mistaking that we're in a rut at the moment, but if the aspiration for this season is to get to 52 points then I think I'd give the next 7½ months a miss.

Of course it's a squad development period, I'll agree with that.  But a club like ours - with the relative resources we have at our disposal compared with most at this level - we have to aim at the top 6 every season.  No ifs or buts.  We're long overdue a stint in the 2nd tier now.

3 home defeats in a row to not very good sides. Bodes well!

Another weekend fucked.

I thought last week was bad.

Silver lining.....being shit in September is the best time to be shit.

Mid table...and we should all be thankful.....

We're going to take longer than most to gel, given how late on our squad has been assembled.  Just important that we kick on in October & November.

Why no attendance announcement again?

Really.
Apart from a couple of freak seasons,Stfc are an average and always  will be a Div 3 club imo.

Massive problems for me. When we the last time we lost 3 in a row at home or full stop? Home form is really poor and away not much better either. Cooper seems a bit clueless this season. He isn't picking the right formation for the players he has and when he picks the team there is always at least 1 player out of position. Subs were baffling today as well.

The problem for me is that we have too many players for similar positions that there are a few positions that can't be filled. As a result we have to have a makeshift starting line up and formation and it doesn't help. Powers recruitment might just have been a bit off in the summer window. Too many eggs in one basket. Could be a long season.

without serious investment long term yes, but ephemeral trips into the league above are possible.

will settle for regs 52 points right now.

I like Cooper, and he's had a whole side taken away from underneathe him and had to start again. What worries me is the speculation about him leaving in the summer, does he want to be here, does Power want him here?
For that reason I would make a change, not because I think he is a bad manager, but because im not sure everyone is happy, and it is showing on the pitch.

This totally.  Something just doesn't seem quite right. 

At the moment, it feels very similar to 2010/11 when we also had a strong squad of players on paper.

2 away games in the next week against Doncaster who are shit and Blackpool who are really shit will prove how shit we really.

Incidentally if you are the tool who was behind me today, shouting 'get it forward' and 'play it on the floor' as well as 'Cooper you cunt' just to let you know, you are really a bit simple.

Division 3 is our natural home, sure enough - but at the upper end of it.  Law of averages dictates that if that is our level, we should have an excursion to Division 2 every now & then.  In the last 15 years, we've had two separate visits (happily both brief ones) to Division 4.  I'm just saying that a club whose natural level is at the upper end of Division 3 should now be due a spell - even a short one - in the level above.  There are many clubs smaller than ours that have been up there (and higher) since we last were.

I have followed town since 89, 26 years. I would say for the first 6 years we were shouts for a solid championship side, for the last 20 years I'd agree with the league one status.

Then I'd suggest you prepare to be a football free zone, until the next cricket season gets into swing....we've 2 massive fixtues ahead,  against 2 fellow strugglers and need to stop the rot asap, or the 52 will start to look a bit distant.

Did anyone explain to Ojaama he was at wing back or what that meant? As he seemed neither to get on the wing, nor to track back. As for the "run all day" stuff, hmm, "run when he felt like it" looked more like to me. I know he's new to the squad and so might be taking time to fit in etc etc in which case why is he getting a start?

Indeed.  At the moment, I'm not really sure what he offers.  His crossing was utter rubbish as well.

Probably in his contract he has to play ;)

 He legged it out of Legia cos they used him as a winger. He sees himself as a No 10

I saw a very despondent Mark Cooper walking home on his own with a carrier bag of booze this evening. Either watching the rugger or drowning his sorrows  :pint:

Was the best player at Barnsley. Hot and cold so far at home. Think Ajose's the one at the moment most struggling to justify his place.

Give the little Irish fella a go.

Fickle or what!

- A couple of weeks ago we had allegedly assembled a squad of Galacticos!
- Sacking Cooper? If we were going to do that, we should have done it after the play off final.
- Vigaroux disciplinary issues? What did he do?
- Are Coopers hands tied by the details of the loans? Do certain players 'have' to play? Would we be better off losing the loans?
- What is going on with Kasim? All does not seem well.

We've been shit all season really. Only the 45 mins against Bradford have been any good.

The rest of the games we've either lost or could/should have been beaten.

We've played 6 at home and only won once. The standard of our play has been poor and shows no signs of improving.

Can't argue with any of that.  I know it wasn't the same team, but we've been shit since March really with the same problems there now as there was then.

Main issues for me right now with our predicament

1) rumour is power is using the club like a football agent.  i.e. Keeping us afloat but pocketing transfer fees.  Next set of accounts will clear this one up as either myth or truth.  But this concept is abhorrent to me personally whilst clever on powers part we are not a plaything and a fancy scoreboard doesn't cut it.

2) Whilst I like the total football at times you do have to adapt as playing the way we do doesn't pose the opposition many questions.  i.e. we leave a player up the field when defending but refuse to ever kick/throw it long so it's a hollow attacking threat.

3) We are fudging our defence as we have only one recognised fullback and it shows.  Sorry but Nathan Thompson is our best centre back and asking him to go back to being a full back is madness.  Jordan turdball also looks a shadow of the player he was last season playing out of position. (Thompson and turdball should be when fit the two centre backs with boo and omfg we have missed a position/player on the other side)

4) we are struggling for height in league one to many inch high private eyes.  Please never play Rodgers and traore together again.

5) Sorry but in all the years of watching Swindon mainly at home I have rarely seen us do well when we don't have 2 out and out strikers.  All this bullshit about the diamond, the three up top is bullshit.  We have been playing with one striker who out of desperation normally ends up out wide so when the crosses come in they are picking out the inch high private eyes or just finding nobody.

6) is it just me or are we trying to play total football but it was to easy last year so we have this year decided to do the same but where nobody off the ball is allowed to move.  None of the players are moving off the ball.

7) looking at the bench for game changers I simply don't see any.

Cooper is looking more and more desperate on the touch line as it's clear for all to see that teams have worked things out.  The defence is shaky as feck so we will always concede right now I don't see where the goals are coming from.  The midfield isn't fusing with either the defence or attack.

Neither traore,Rodgers, nor the bench fillers are good enough for this level. 

Final point is when we are losing with 10 mins to go can we not throw the kitchen sink at the opposition farting around passing it in our own half (like the previous 80 mins) doesn't feel like the players give a shit.

We are staring relegation in the face here no doubt about it unless we adapt quickly and develop a plan b

We were cut open to easily down the right twice.   Ojaama is not a right wingback.  Poor decision to try and fit him in there.  We were poor defensively all round.

But here is the thing, we still managed to score a goal.  We should have scored 3 more (Ojamma should have put one away, Thomas also had a damn good chance and Ajose should have scored late in the game when he hit the post).  I dont believe the league is very good this season.

I will press the panic button if we lose our next 2 games, but I dont believe we will. 

Defence really needs to be sorted though.

Some interesting opinions tonight.

I still think we lack an obvious leader / link-up player and at least one decent centre back.

Slot another Jack Stephens in next to Branco and someone like Alan McCormack into the middle and we've got a competitive side.

Far too many players playing for themselves at the moment and there seems to be zero enthusiasm to work together - hence the lack of movement off the ball and general unwillingness to help each other out.

Motivation is down to Cooper obviously, but he comes across as a right fucking miserable bastard at the best of times, so I'm not surprised that the players reflect that.

If things stay as they are, we're going to have a shit winter and a difficult spring.

We're shite, don't really know what else to say to sum us up. We will be in a relegation battle this season. Battle may even be over egging it, as I'll be surprised if we have any fight. I would never say chit like this if I didn't believe it, but I can see us doing a Tranmere. I'm struggling to see a heart or identity to the club. The players out there today certainly showed neither.

YAY we're going to The Conference. WOW!

Because they're getting lowere maybe? 6,687 yesterday according to sky.

I really wanna know what Vig did..

Can't remember where I read it last night, but apparently he was late for training.  Seems a bit extreme to drop him though.

Read on Facebook that cooper dropped him due to his insistence on kicking the ball forward instead of backwards and side ways only.

Forward?!?! What a cunt...  8)

Maybe Belford replied to, and favorited, more fan tweets this week, making him the better goalkeeper..

Such play just doesn't fit in with the team philosophy.

I'm going to buy a season ticket, just to tear it up... that'll show him.

Wow. I have never seen such a pessimistic outlook from Town fans. It's not even fucking October yet and apparently we're already relegated.

Don't know whether you have watched many games this season but it is relegation performances at the moment.

Which is why the next 2 games are crucial, they represent a chance to show there's the bottle and belief in the squad, to avoid a relegation struggle.  Atm, the desire to do the dirty work doesn't look to be there.

We had the best squad in the league a couple of weeks ago too. It's all or nothing for us town fans you know.

Bad day - more shouts of rubbish from my mate 4 rows back - encouraging stuff - nothing like getting behind your team when things are not going your way - sack Cooper - Power`s a crook - players not interested - we are going down - fuck me it`s not even October. Need the goal keeper back though and some confidence from somewhere. This forum is nearly as depressing as the football....
 

The main problem is that we do not look like anything resembling a team and are instead a cobbled together squad with some talented individuals, loan players and cheap non-league gambles. There's no cohesion whatsoever.

 :D

Throw in injuries and from the outside what looks to be a bit of unrest in the squad, and all he ingredients of a difficult season are in place.

Of course no two seasons are alike but losing 3 at home on the spin, is an indicator....we've done it in 3 seasons in the last 10 years.  05/06, relegated, 10/11 relegated, 08/09 achieved 52 after 45 games stayed up.

Well this is fun.

So how long do you give it? How many defeats and lacklustre performances and plummeting attendances do the club wait for a turn round?

If Cooper/Williams can't fashion a competent defence after 2 years what makes people think they will in the future?

Well in 2 of the mentioned seasons, we changed manager and still went down, in 08/09 we changed manager and just about stayed up.  Given the model set out by Power, there seems to me to be no point in panicking and changing direction, what is needed is a better focus on improving what we've got...better fitness, better game awareness and more commitment.

Well, more than two months.

Look I get what you are saying, I really do, simply because up until he was sacked I was convinced Wilson would turn it around too. But its far far too early for that, to even think about it. We've had a shit 3 results*, that's all.

* and a shit pre-season, and a couple of fortunate wins. And a shit last third to the end of last season - with many of the same issues but with better players. Oh, heck, I'm not selling this well.

In any case,  what do we think a new manager would do, a) if they HAVE to play loanees (if) and b) who do we think would work under Power's structure and imposed style of play other than has been desperadoes. Maybe a youth team manager from the Prem, or Luke Williams?

Well, that's the problem. Maybe the change in style, or whatever you want to call it, needs to come from Power.

If, indeed, Cooper has his hands tied insofar as who he plays, where and in what style, then how will things change.

My gripe with Cooper, especially yesterday, was how we were set up. Playing 352 with Robert and Ojamaa as wingbacks was crazy.

Fair enough if he decided that was the formation, but why not play 2 out of BOO, Barry or Brophy as wingbacks - at least they would have made a better fist of their defensive duties.

And as for taking Kasim and Robert off . . .

I think most town fans are as mystified as you on those points Audrey. In fact we have a bit of a problem. Robert is better playing just off the front 2. I think Ajose is too. As possibly is ojaama. So 4-3-1/1/1-0 next week then

Incidentally I thought we looked just as bad 3-5-2 as we did with 4 at the back. We created more chances, but so did the opposition. Plus I don't think Colchester are as good as Burton, I think the latter were so comfortable they didn't have to get out of second gear.

What it boils down to, Batch, is the recruitment policy. Too many players in one position and not enough in others.

I think the club expected Kasim to leave, hence Traore. They get Ojamaa who in the past has said he doesn't see himself as a winger and doesn't want to play there as Byrne's replacement.

Cooper states 4 at the back is the favoured line up this season, which means only 1 up front, then they get Ajose who needs to play up front off a big man.

It's all disjointed and players have been brought in by Power with little thought as to how to integrate them into the preferred system.

Haven't read back, but just a couple of points.

We've all seen some bad Swindon teams, in terms of quality and effort, but I don't remember a worse performance in relation to perceived talent in a very long time. The set up was horrific from the word go, no drive, no thought processes, no shape, no momentum.

Branco exposed and as bad as last year, Turnbull not at his best, the two 'wingbacks' completely wasted, wasteful and useless, but not their fault. Traore hilariously bad and no wonder Kasim was pissed off. Belford showed nothing to suggest he's capable of being number 1 (but, you know, he's a nice bloke on Twitter so....). Ajose and Thomas looked bright until Thomas went off, then Ajose and Hylton offered nothing but to get in each other's way, and for once, it was completely down to the tactics, the shape, the ideas, the methodology.

How any one can slag of Ojamma is beyond me. Playing him WB was up there with the stupidest decisions I've seen in a long time, obviously didnt have a clue what he was doing becuase he's a forward playing in defence. Their 31, Harriott, had the easiest match he'll ever have, and we got turned at home to Col U without really even competing with them.

There's no doubt we've got a good collection of players, but we're failing to pick a good team. Is that because Cooper is struggling to get it right? Or is that because he's having his hands tied? Not sure, either way with this squad and the relative investment made on deadline day, coupled with a perceived weak league, this is a long way off good enough. Power has said he expects us to challenge. We've bought in the players he believes will alloow that.

Col U won't have an easier away win all season, and they're pretty fucking rank. This can't and won't go on for much longer.

Doesn't it as much as anything boil down to the fact that no one knows who holds what role within the club...

We do well its apparently down to Williams....

We do badly it's apparently down to Power...

We have no idea what happened with Cooper in the summer did he ask to leave or did Power make it clear he would let him leave if satisfactory compensation either way its not going to lead to a happy relationship, whilst now we have players being dropped for indiscipline and players storming off having been substituted - it hardly illustrates a happy ship for all the newcomer's to try and integrate into?

The sheer confusion for the fans is simply illustrated by the fact that for many Miles Storey is some manner of Messi-esque  football God?

All valid points, but in terms of the yesterday's game, it was just sheer garbage from the managerial team.

Cotterill we be out of a job soon, he can manage us when cooper goes

 ;D

can't we move to 4-4-2

Seeing as we're in a relegation dog fight, in September...

What's Paul Hart up to?

It depends on personnel.

With all the hoo-ha surrounding getting Ajose we have to play 2 up front - either 3-5-2, as yesterday, or 4-1-3-2.

352 is a no-no really as we don't have the wingbacks for it as proven oh so painfully yesterday.


4-1-3-2 requires 2 very good full backs. There are no wingers, just two centre midfielders who support playmaker. Behind them you need powerful defensive midfielder who is secure with the ball. In my opinion, you need one target man and one shadow striker who can not only score goals, but also be quick and cooperate with his colleague in front.

I've seen him twice and not been impressed either time. If that's down to wrong position, lack of match fitness or needs to settle in we will see. He was better than the saviour Ajose though.

Lets hope this is our slump out the way early, and come November we'll be embarrassed by thinking we could be shit.

Surprised Paddy Stewart wasn't on the bench yesterday. I'd give him a go instead of Ojamaa.

He's got to have arrived a long way off league match sharpness and actual fitness. Definitely a good call to ease him in, take a bit of expectation off, etc. His chance will come.

I'd also argue that Powers model has no relevance which division we are in.
If he can continue to turn profit and get loan players would he even care whether it's L1 or L2?

I would expect a lower league would mean a drop in attendance therefore an even lower budget.
Other than that no

I suppose the argument is whether Power's method (heavy reliance on loans) is best for Power but not best, long term, for the club.

Does having 4/5 loanees in every squad be more of a benefit in reducing the wage bill or a hindrance by reducing the chance of playing Swindon-contracted players who could command a fee in the future.

The elephant in the room for the Power model is the court hearing trying to outlaw transfer fees and loans. Should the judges find in favour of the players and agents, then the model is fucked and presumably Power sells up.

Personally, I see no on pitch success with our current model.

Anytime we get a good team together it will get broken up - either with loans returning or players being sold. We will have to start from scratch pretty much every season. Then once we get everyone settled in - it's all change again.

Already this season has changed. Clearly we were set up to let Nathan Bynre be our attacking threat. A month into the season he's gone and we've got to come up with a new game plan.

TBF, I would be amazed if the club thought they would hang on to Byrne or even wanted to with the possibility of missing out on a big fee.

Nobody can deny that Power has brought in players most of us were creaming ourselves about at the time.

It just seems now that those players don't really fit in with the formation we prefer to play. The only logical conclusion to that us that the formation much change.

But we've had a couple of decent seasons using the model.  What doesn't seem to have happened yet in this season, but may do in January, is the spending of a fee to get something like an Obika, Michael Smith, Byrne, Luongo type of player.

The only fee, being the 50K to Glentoran for Stewart. Byrne was always likely to go, which is why Stewart was flagged up as his replacement.

pretty much every lower league team is fucked if all forms of transfer fees go.

Byrne's sale has nothing to do with Power's 'model'. Unless we can get some other moneybags mug like Black we need to sell players, just like nearly every football club.

Most fans seem to veer from stupidly optimistic, to stupidly pessimistic on an almost weekly basis. Power's model got us our highest placing in the league for fucking years last season, I'm not saying it's my ideal (I'd prefer a Russian ogliarch, or Suadi Prince) but I struggle to see a viable alternative while we're in league one. Power has been pretty open about his ambitions: success on the pitch, leading to promotion which in turn will make the club a more attractive proposition for investors. Meaning he makes some money. I've got no problem with that.
 What I don't understand is the same people who accuse Cooper of being a puppet, with no control of tactics, selection, recruitment, or anything else, are he same ones who blame him when things are going well and suggest he's lost the dressing room! Talk about having you cake and eating it!
 It was shit yesterday. And it was shit last week. Things need to change, either with tactics or personnel, but I'll leave the wrist slashing for a while yet.

I didn't think we were that bad yesterday, though we were clearly not a coherent, well-organised team.

I do still think some of the disjointedness is down to the team effectively being in pre-season with so many new players.

Cooper does, however, need to take responsibility for trying to crowbar them all into positions where they clearly don't belong. 

I thought, with all the pacy players we've been going for this summer, there might have been a cogent, long-term plan in place to develop a new style of play. So far, however, it's mostly looked like a bewildering parody of last year.

It should go without saying, that Cooper needs to find the tactics that best suits the new players, not suit the new players to last year's tactics.

Yesterday, though an improved performance, seemed a bit of a retrograde step in that regard.

Yesterday was, indeed, better - but only in an attacking sense.

We were just as piss poor at defending as we have been for 2 years - and that is what is making me question Cooper/Williams.

They've had a long time to sort it but are incapable of doing so.

Were Barry and BOO available for selection yesterday, as well as Brophy?  I was hoping that two out of the three would play, as it seemed obvious.  I can't work out why it didn't happen, or whether it would have made any difference. It would probably have eliminated the very bad start when the back three were very exposed at times. Doesn't Cooper think they're good enough to start, despite our awful defensive record? ? 

We were shit yesterday but still believe with players we have we should be in/around play offs. Lose the next 2 against struggling sides then we could have a long season ahead.

As mentioned above.
If you don't have the personnel to fit the style, then change the style to fit the personnel we do have.
No brainer really but Cooper seems unwilling or unable to veer from the chosen style path.
With all the pace we have esp upfront ,you think a few balls over the top would at the very least push the oppositions back line towards their own goal to counter it.
Freeing up midfield space.

But what do I know
Next two games are crucial to halt the slide however he changes it.

With Reg.
Only desperado managers will come here and work under the Power model.
I'm sure that's why Kmac fucked off.
It's September.... Cooper has the luxury of time to get it right.

Fuck off! Joke or not....Fuck off!

We've been notoriously shit at Doncaster for years. In fact we've only beaten them 3 times in 20 tries in the league. History should make no difference, but it seems to. We did end the away jinx last year mind.

Oh yeah, I had a point, right, I don't think Tuesday is the be all and end all of our season. Would settle for 2 points from our next two but with good performances.

Of the XI that won the historic 3 points at Donny mid March....only 3 players will be available 6 months later.  Turnbull, Branco and Kasim.

Nathan, and Obika ruled out by injury.

That Donny can field a player like Andy Williams, who we couldn't afford, shows what we're up against. 

I was going to make a smart-arsed comment about Andy Williams but it will only come back to bite me on the arse come Tuesday evening.

an on form Andy Williams Is better than anyone we have up top now. shame it only happens infrequently, no doubt Tuesday will be one of those days.

I been a big fan of cooper but patience is wearing thin now. I know people say Powers influence doesn't help but i refuse to believe Power told hom to play those wing backs saturday.

Power has provided him with the players here,Cooper needs to get them performing or i fear for his job

I think most can agree that I'm a glass half full Town fan compared to others but I have to say that I don't think Mark Cooper can take us much further.

That's not to say I'm fuming and will sign up to a 'Cooper Out' movement. A managers tenure will always reach its nadir, I don't think we're too far away from Mark Cooper's.

A pretty fair assessment that. Take your reason elsewhere.

That Ojamaa miss really is horrible. Fine margins and all that...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYuCT3u6o9k (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYuCT3u6o9k)

We were better than against Burton- not difficult though. One of our problems is we are very static. Watching Colchester players moving off the ball, making space and giving options, then watching ours with limited movement, providing limited options with the exception of the ball to the player under pressure and subsequent loss of possession.....

Kasim subbed off- WTF?

Brophy looked positive but needs game time to develop maturity and decision making. Hylton is suffering from lack of match time post injury. Balmy- I like the look of him.

As for Cooper/ Williams etc. needing to sort it out? There are a few on here who need to sort it out also.

8- 9 pages of post match misery and bile and NOT ONE FUCKING MENTION OF THE CUNT WITH THE DRUM!

Two home games on the trot with a drum and not a peep from you lot. Sort it out.

I was sure that was a brilliant save when I saw it live, but looks like a miss on the highlights video.

I was trying to get that out of my memory, but you've bought it back. Thanks.

Bang...Bang...Bang

Drums should be banned at football matches...End of.

Whatever one thinks of Power he does appear keen to protect his investments and putting out a side with players miles out of position doesn't achieve that - for that reason alone I just cannot see Power fucking about with formation to that degree.

I would imagine Kasim's worth is falling this season

It was dreadful, although not really sure why the keeper and defender high fived each other afterwards, the only thing that prevented him scoring was woeful finishing!

The first 25 seconds of the video are embarrassing watching, short of sitting on the ball and smoking a fag they couldn't have taken the piss more, no pressing and no clue so apparent that early one!

Is Belford really small - he looks it!

There was an incident in the 2nd half where a Colchester attacker was given so much space as he entered the penalty area as we backed off instead of pressing him.

We seem so slow in even attempting to close down attackers - so much so I wonder if our 'defenders' are told to stand off them and let them get a cross in.

1. What the bloody hell is Traore trying to do for their first goal
2. Still think Ty should have done better for both goals, but then so should the rest of the team
3. He made a good save at the end though
4. I'm sure the keeper touch Ojaama's effort over. To be honest, Oj has done well to find the only space the keeper can get to a hand on the ball
5. If cooper needs to see the unsuitability of Ojaama at wing back, he only needs to look at the second goal

A few things of note:

Power picks the style of play  - short passing
Power decides what players we sign - he appears to have signed a boat load of players with no regards as to what formation we can play to accommodate them
Power has worked on relationships with premier clubs to sign loan players and seems to have agreed they will play most or all games when available
Luke Williams has been highlighted by quite a few players as a good coach able to improve players
Cooper & Williams have no personal relationship other than professional in training
Cooper is out of contract end of the season and there has been no talk of it being extended

Disagree slightly there. Yes Power picks style of play and players etc but Cooper has shown enough times that he will pick formations make subs during the game.

Power can't be blamed for Cooper thinking playing Ojama & Robert as wing backs will work

I didn't suggest that Power picks the team just pointing out he has a hand in it, I've never been one of Cooper greatest fans but to give Cooper some credit he does seemingly have one hand tied behind his back at times.

I would be interested though to see how Cooper would do at another club given free reign.

Agree about Wing back's that formation for me was desperation hoping to attack Colchester's leaky defence and out score them - but it back fired

We're going to lose to "them" aren't we?

Without a shadow of doubt unless we can recall 'him' from loan.

I sense it's gone from (http://www.techsupportforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/alarm-bell-200x200.jpg)

to full on (http://duanekrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Panic-Button-300x290.jpg) today.

Realising we're on the cusp of a relegtion battle, may sharpen the focus of a few minds.....let's hope so.

Seems to be a perfect storm brewing.

Disciplinary, injuries, out of form players, manager clueless and crowds dwindling by the week.

This.

I fear you could be correct getting knocked out of the paint pot by the scum will only increase the pressure lets just hope we can turn it around before then.

I don't think we are at full on panic yet, however it just all appears a little rudderless a the moment which doesn't bode well when a situation needs seriously sorting out.

The JPT, is neither here nor there.  Given our smallish squad, number of injuries etc then Cooper is entitled to regard it as an inconvenience in the bigger picture of doing enough to get to 52 this season.

Copper may well regard it as an inconvenience but to the fan base it has a meaning, a huge one for most.
Our recent record against the yellow trash is abysmal and a win is long overdue, inconvenience or not.
We can go put in the next round  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I have never thought that Copper has any feelings towards the fanbase ever.... Those will be no different.

If Cooper has any sense it will be the strongest possible team we put out for the scummers, failure to pick up points on the road this week followed by a defeat to them and Westley's Peterborough on the 10th could be interesting...

I think Cooper should go if we fail to win 1 of the next 2 games or at least get 2 points.

I think Cooper should have a minimum target of 4 points from the next 3 games:

Donny A
Blackpool A
Posh H

Anything less then think he will be gone

Do you really think he is under pressure and that the expectation is playoffs?

I don't.

There's a difference in not making the POs and serving up the shite we've seen lately.

Personally, I think he's had his chance and is now giving the impression of not knowing what to do to get out of the rut.

Weird selections, weirder substitutions and a general air of malaise pervading the entire club.

Late transfer window activity aside, that's been true of the whole club from the moment the final whistle went at Wembley. I firmly place the general drifting at Powers door.

The speculation on Cooper's future over the summer hasn't helped cement a feeling of unity either.

I don't think the fans have actually helped much these last few games. You can see it is getting to some of the players. I saw turnbull reacting to the crowd in the last game. I understand things are not great but getting on at the manager or the players is not going to help them. They are young and will be more affected by the atmosphere. In these circumstances i think it is better to say nothing at all. I certainly didnt think the booing helped. Some of the people around me were moaning like hell and the were doing my head in more than the game. Most of these people are the ones that never join in with the singing or create that atomsphere when things are going well, but they certainly can moan

This game was certainly disappointing and I dont seem to see where we are going to turn things around. After the strikers we signed I thought we are nailed on for a good run of wins. I dont think our strikers are the problem they are just not getting the service. When we play 90% of our game at the back they are going to get very few chances and that is the problem.

Part of the reason I stopped going last season was that the part of the DRS I sit in was so full of moaners we would be 2 or 3 goals to the good and keeping the ball well and they'd be grumbling and talking about how it wasn't good enough.

Our fans are fickle as fuck sometimes and I dread to think what the atmosphere waa like at the last game. My worst experience of atmosphere at the CG was Yeovil last season when they set up to defend and played out the game, got lucky and won 1-0. Miserable old farts around me and me dad were slaggin off the manager, players (even the ones who were playing well). Fucking hateful.

It's no wonder the young lads have been playing shit if that's the atmosphere being created.

I think Mr Power may disagree with you. Why would he come out and state our aim it 'to be competitive again' when internally he's saying fifth from bottom is ok? Achieves nothing.

I'm a fan of Cooper, but fear his spell is coming to a natural end - petering out if you will. If he did have a chance to get himself a contract elsewhere in the summer, he should have took it. It was the right time for everyone.

Totally agree.  I don't go and watch other teams so for all I know this kind of fan attitude could happen at 90% of other grounds and we aren't alone.

However I suspect that isn't the case and a sizeable percentage of our fanbase are genuinely grade A cunts.

It doesn't just happen when we are going through a blip.  There was a game under PDC against the Shrews I think, we hadn't lost in yonks, hadn't conceded at home in 5/6 games and we had the nerve to be 0-0 at half time.....we got booed off

Come back to the CG. Stand next to me in the Town End and we can create our very own 'no moan zone' and chant "You're just a bunch of moaners" while pointing to the rest of the ground. The odd one or two may join us and before the end of the season, the NMZ could be as big as a whole row.

Same everywhere and has always been the case....I wouldn't have had Saturday down as particularly bad. Certainly if any player found it so they're probably in the wrong job.