Thetownend.com

Batch requested a MTD so here it is.

Can't be bothered watching but will as I have the season pass.

More injuries announced by Morris.

We wont win.

Thanks.

so Tomlinson almost certainly out (groin) and FBT a doubt (toe).

Will this force us to 4 at the back,  with no left back I guess he's going to have to recall Clayton and/or Minturn 

I take it we’ve never lost 5 on the spin in L2.

Honestly, some of the absolute dross we’ve been beaten by this season. Embarrassing.

I’ll go but will be the penultimate match of the season for me, despite having a season ticket I’m not going to bother putting in the effort to go to the 2 upcoming midweek home games.

Would be nice to see the players at least put in an effort but even then not convinced we’ll get any kind of result.

Build your own defence from Hutton, Lavinier, Clayton, Brewitt and Minturn. Would have to be Lavinier LB I guess. Not encouraging.

As some one once said (can't remember who)...'if they were playing in my back garden I'd draw the curtains'...

Was it you? just then?

Your memory finally gone mate? ;)

Happy to take a defeat if it meant the end of Morris.

Ouch. I can understand.
This is often the case when the club is on a wretched run.
Can't wait for the season to end.

We lost 5 in a row in Div 4 in 1982/83 which wasnt even our worst season finish, we only won 1 game in 13 with 8 being defeats, a run which cost Trollope the managers job.

Also 2017 we had a run of 5 defeats in a row under Flitcroft.

Since the year 2000 we have had a lot of bad runs.

Runs of 5 defeats in a row.
L1 April 2021,
L1 October 2020,
L2 November 2017,
L1 January 2017,
L1 October 2015,
L1 October 2003

L1 August 2002 was 7 in a row.

L1 August 2005 was 8 in a row.

Unashamedly stolen from Twitter via FB.

(https://i.postimg.cc/MKC7v0gV/340161685-1642368552857398-7090572790256171191-n.jpg)

Oh, no we will be well down on our quota of left backs in the team!

Morris is going to have to go and be a bit unconventional and play centre backs at centre back (you’d hope) you watch this make shift left backless central defensive pairing keep a clean sheet now!

…or he’ll squeeze in 3 at the back and Wakeling at LWB - if that’s the case I’d walk straight out.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

You'd think Hutton Brewitt Clayton Lavinier would be 'okay'.

I’d argue that, that is 3/4th of our strongest back line anyway…


           Minturn Brewitt Clayton
Hutton                                     Lavinier

Even if Morris wants to stick with wing backs that still looks pretty ok to me.

Stand by for Darcy at CB

Easy to say now and I could be eating my words after the game but it wouldn’t surprise me if our back line (assuming Morris actually puts out a defence made up of defenders which isn’t a given) looks better because Morris’ hand has been forced a bit and his selection has been simplified.

We shall see…

It’s also quite telling that with a lot of defensive injuries we as fans aren’t sure whether he will replace those injured defenders in the team with defenders.

What this injury does sadly say to me is that we shouldn't be making Tomlinson a perm. He's Jordan Lyden 2.0.

Nah, he’d never do that….



….stand by for Darcy at RWB and Hutton at CB.

I have been donated a season ticket for the game, so will attend as my boy loves the day out.

If I use said ST in the shop are they quite strict?

I thought Morris had said FBT was probably going to be ok?

Assuming that I guess the back four would be Hutton/Brewitt/Clayton/FBT

Perhaps but I think the deal has already been agreed as part of the loan deal.

It’s an assumption and reading between the lines on my part but why would you sign someone on loan in January who was going to be injured till March. It’s a complete waste of a loan in general plus it was a loan for a position that wasn’t really a priority for us.

…that makes me think there has to be something more to the deal - there has to be something in for us to have taken on the player (and a % of his wages no doubt) when we knew full well he was going to be injured for almost half the loan spell and probably not match for right after that.

Considering he’s out of contract in June (right?) I’ve made the assumption as part of the loan we’ve agreed a small fee - so we’ve jumped the queue come summer to sign him plus avoiding a tribunal where they could pluck any sort of random compensation fee out their arse which probably screw over one of ourselves or Posh.


…but considering how the football operations have been run this season I’m not sure we’ve been organised or forward thinking enough for the above.

Wasn’t that supposed to be the case for Jephcott as well.

I think they always said from the start with Jephcott that we have the option to make it permanent but we would have to exercise that option - rather than it being a done deal that has to happen.

I'm sure Tomlinson did an interview where he said it was just an option too...

I believe there was a fee in place for us to sign him in January, the fact we didn’t means he is a free agent in the summer.

I thought Tomlinson still had a year left on his deal at Peterborough, either that or we have to pay a fee because of his age

Know what you mean.

I'm not quite there with Morris but, presuming he's still here next season, then this season's surrender will unhelpfully see fan pressure right on him (and the new team) from the get go.

I always support and cheer STFC during the game (with difficulty last Saturday).  But there have been times, at 0-1 with 5 minutes left, where a freak equaliser and 1pt would just muddy the waters.  I'm getting ready to demand the manager's head post match.

Once or twice, I have been pleased by a defeat.  I was able to stay behind and vent.  "We want Macca out!".  No regrets.
 But also "We want Kingy out" :no:

Sheridan was spared that treatment by Covid.  Righteous anger with no outlet.  >:(

Sadly i agree as nice as it would be to have a two footed full back who is a local lad on the books.

I think if you try and have a smaller squad with more quality next year then FBT is your first choice LB and you try and get a couple of CB's in.

oh that's good. I just read what the adver put:

"Blake-Tracey has a slight problem with his toe, not sure if he makes Saturday"

edit: whereas just read total sport

" FBT has a problem with his toe, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem."

sorry

I suspect us playing him when he has been barely fit has probably not helped his injury status, I would be inclined to see how he is with a close season and pre-season in the tank.

A fair argument. Just don't want to go down the sicknote 'bargains' route.

If we've got FBT and Tomlinson out, I wouldn't be surprised to see a back 5 of Hutton, Brewitt, Kadji, Clayton and Wakeling.

Swindon 1 Barrow 1 Att: 8,010 (150 Wheelbarrows)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Dul-lKBVA

 another frustrating defeat incoming

Barrow are a bit better than the shite we've been losing to recently so can only see another tepid defeat from this useless bunch.

I don't care about the results any more, but I'd like to see *something* to give me hope for next year, be it tactical or individual performance. A few weeks ago there was lots of talk (not least from me) about Wellens' first half season... that's gone away a bit now. Let's get it back.

This is exactly how I feel, I just want some hope that next season will be different.

This, the lack of quality in the squad can be addressed over the summer, what is more worrying is Morris's apparent inability to get fire in their bellies and ensure that they are up for it, which combined with his strange habit of playing players in positions they are entirely unsuited for will be a worry whatever happens in the summer.

I'd like to see something that either shows definitively whether it is going to work or not going to work with Morris. If the latter then I'd like to see early action to prepare for next year.

What I expect is another insipid performance where we try to pass the ball around the back, but can't create anything in the final third. A mistake or lack of tracking in midfield will result in a soft goal, then we will panic or give up and slump to a 2-3 goal defeat.

I do wonder if the person inside the club that’s trying to undermine Morris by leaking all sorts odd shite to Whelan and that other bloke on Twitter is also feeding stuff to the players to try & unsettle them.

If someone told you the new manager doesn’t rate you & is going to get rid of you in the summer, would you put in that extra bit of effort to make the difference?

In the interview Tomlinson said the ball is in Swindons court, a fee has already been agreed but its not a done thing, also he said he iss desperate come back to the club he supported as a young un, he wants to move here, Posh dont want him so its fee and wages left to sort.

Agreed 100%.

I don't think anyone is having to brief the players that Morris blames them and thinks they are not good enough, he is pretty clear in his post match pressers that the problem isn't down to him.

They don't play a passing possession based football but use wingers and hitting teams on the break with long balls and fast strikers, they also play a lot of set piece plays with an aerial threat from corners and long throw ins. Which as we know is exactly the style that we struggle against.

Thier form isn't that great this is their run of results since January with the most recent at the top. Thier only win by more than 1 goal was last week at home to Crawley where they won 4-0.

H 4-0 W
A 0-3 L
H 2-1 W
H 2-1 W
A 0-1 L
H 0-0 D
A 1-0 W
H 0-0 D
H 1-0 W
A 1-0 W
A 0-1 L
H 0-1 L
A 1-1 D
A 1-5 L
H 0-2 L
A 0-0 D
A 3-2 W
H 0-0 D

Twice this season on their travels they have conceded 5 goals at Stevenage and Carlisle.

On the road they are in 12th place in the away table with Swindon above them in 11th place

Away games
Swindon P21 W6 D7 L8  F24 A28 25pts
Barrow   P20 W6 D4 L10 F17 A30 22pts

In 7 meetings between the 2 sides, all in the league,  Swindon have won 4, D1 and lost 2 scoring 9 and conceding 5 times.

In games between the sides at the CG Swindon have won 2 and lost 1, the only defeat coming in 1967, a 1-0 win for Barra.

I agree about another defeat though as they will batter us as we are far too weak.

Im back, a flukey win....they hit the woodwork four times.

I usually feel a bit bad at some point moaning about a team in an open forum. At least one of them could read it.

But hopefully all this talk of 'worst Swindon ever' will put some fire in their belly. it's not like there is anything to lose now, no playoff pressure.

I've thus woken up feeling inexplicably optimistic about this game.
-----

what are those funny symbols next to the scores Venks? look a bit like a "wubble-u".?

I think we win this one, I mean we have to at some point statistically speaking. I reckon 2-0

The thing is, what if that is absolutely true and the majority of these players do need telling exactly that? Maybe Morris has accepted that the quality available to him really is incredibly poor (by 'incredibly poor', I mean in the sense that they are incapable of being a squad hunting for auto or even being kind, the POs) and is trying to force as many of the contracted dross out as possible - basically the ones he deems not good enough for an auto promotion push next term. This way, next season means he has got a pretty much almost clean slate; albeit one in which he would definitely have to hit the ground running or by about ten games.

Let's face it, and it's not super entitled to think this but every time STFC are in the basement division the priority and expectation should always be to be promoted automatically; especially when there are three bloody auto spots up for grabs. POs should always be considered a convenient runner up bonus. Anything else is a fucking disaster and for this season it is clearly a compounded group failure and particularly in the area of recruitment on the pitch.

Does that make sense, at all? In relativity to the current recruitment shambles at STFC

================

Anyway, I'll go for an outlier and say Town will win by a goal - probably an own goal but anything will do at the moment. Any superstition or any dream will do; I really hope we get to see Jody's coat of many colours tomorrow  ;)

An argument which would hold considerably more water if much of this dross had not formed the guts of a team who were 6th in the table before the lower league Guardiola took over.

They weren't though realistically - teams immediately below had multiple games in hand and that was a squad with Reed, Gladwin and MacDonald who are all better than what we've got.

Weren't we actually 10th/11th on PPG at that point?

Its something you will never know the meaning of again, mwah hah.

A true point but I still say that if any manager had been dealt the kind of delays, selling of key players and unable to obtain their own, as well as a raft of injuries, suspensions and his number two being a protracted appointment they too may have taken a good number of games to settle properly.

I think right now, that probably can't be justified as much as previous as some time has passed but maybe the unsettled period was enough time for the damage to have well and truly been done?

I would say that right now Morris probably has about one arm cable tied to his shin and a blunt Stanley blade in the other hand. As opposed to when he arrived and it dawned on him ''My God? What have I done?'' - see Talking Heads - realising he was about to be waterboarded and SdM was waving the Stanley blade in front of him.

Just for clarification btw horlock07, I've never stated he's the LLG and my initial thoughts when Town appeared to be after him was that I thought he should be here as a very good number two and not as the number one.  Maybe someone who could transition into the number one role here in the future. Alas it feels as though Town's recruitment policy on and off field this season has been less about experience and fast tracking inexperience into roles that require a bit more gravitas and previously mentioned experience




Nice but he's talking about JM, not RW. I don't think it was a reference to a visual interpretation a la Ben Garner but more in JM's approach as to how he would like Town to play the game.

Not sure I follow. I was saying that whilst we were 6th in the league when JM came in, if you re-ordered the table on PPG, as other teams had games in hand, we were actually well below that. In other words it was a false position.

Would still only had been 4/5 off playoffs though. I do understand though that his hands were tied slightly but that is no excuse imo for every single player getting worse since he walked in

Right I gotcha. Apologies, I thought you was referencing the Covd PPG season as RW used to mention Pep Gwardiolewar in every other sentence, and mashing it up with Ben Garner looking like a lower league waxwork of said Spaniard Master.

I think the set of circumstances that were emerging as Morris' delayed appointment meant he had no real impact on a full or even part transfer window, along with several other factors is that any manager appointed would have struggled, even Lyndsey probably would have struggled. The downward spiral was already in place as Morris arrived. Those things are difficult to arrest when nearly everyone in post hasn't experienced it or doesn't have the gumption to deal with it. The scenario has been much more than not ideal - it's been a fucking shitshow.

My reckoning, forget this season ever happened and any way in which the recruitment has been approached. Start afresh season end or before once the maths have made it impossible to get out of the division - in either direction...

Give Morris an opportunity to build his own squad and he should be going to Clem now to ask for such an opportunity. That way, next season will almost be completely on his head. Give him until October/November or fifteen league games, whichever comes first and if Town aren't in the Top 6 then we look at damage limitation in terms of mutual consent. No doubt if he is doing better than Top 6, clubs will be in for him. In this respect, the current Town hierarchy has very recent form in allowing managers and players to go/speak to other clubs at the first bid.

We don't know if Kadji has got worse. He might have been that bad to begin with!

RHM has got better. That is the full list of those who have improved under Morris though.

But if even more other factors are at play like some sneaky beaky underhanded backstabbing, there is not a lot Morris could do about that in terms of personnel other than effectively trying to start planning for next season.

It's difficult because the players should be professional enough to ignore all of the fluff, especially the experienced few, although this can be just as bad. Therein lies a big juicy problem that there is simply too little experience across all departments, even Morris at this junction. A theme that we all spotted right from the moment Garner was allowed to go, even he was evolving in management at the time but nearly everything since then has effectively been a deprecated or inexperienced version of what went before it. In that instance, it lays mostly with the owner in terms of poor senior appointments. But I think many of us are still trying to figure out who our owner is and who our front is.

=============================

Apologies, Matchday Fred

Town will win by a goal, an own goal in off Robbie Gotts bollock.

I think  Morris may have done a better job had he arrived on the same day as Austin.  Instead, he arrived after the Transfer Window (in reality) when we had gutted a team that was already going into reverse.  We layered a little more inexperience on top of a rapidly declining squad.  He has, it seems, done little to arrest that decline by continuing to try and implement the Academy way (at least that is what it looks like to the naked eye).

While I do not think the Gunning/Mildenhall period was anything a Manager could ever replicate over a prolonged period (no consequences to their actions - like playing in a casino with free money), it did show that the players could get a tune if something different were tried.  Morris would have been better served taking stock on his later arrival and being much more pragmatic about how to get results.  Review what he has at his disposal - a centre forward who can score in the box, a wing back who is useless at defending but can put a good cross in and a midfielder who can put in some decent runs and passes through the middle but is useless at defending and holding a position down.

Figure out how to get those three involved, then everyone else just does the simple stuff of their role.  Instead he has continued with the pass it out, play it around, probe, try and open spaces etc. approach.  I'd just be getting the ball to Williams and Hutton, who I'd have at right wing.  Tell Austin not to worry about pressing and tracking and dropping in to help - keep your focus on being in the 6 yard box when needed, hold up play and pass off to Williams who gets a free role.

Or something like that.

Totally agree.

I'd like to see:

Austin up top
Williams as a floating 10
Hutton wide of a front three with a sole brief of beating a man and banging 20+ crosses in per game
Brewitt or Clayton in DM

That makes sense on paper RobT and for the most part I agree.

But also Morris had or thought he had at his disposal a squad mostly of young academy punts, so maybe he can be forgiven for thinking that several of them might be able to play the ''academy way''. It turns out that quite a few of them can't even do that so they'd be screwed with suddenly having to play a more traditional way.

Yes hindsight might say well change it up if it isn't working but if half or more of the team have had their heads turned and/or are already on their way out/signing pre contracts elsewhere the approach does have more factors making it difficult to adapt. And we are talking League Two here so that's going to be an even more rare gem to develop upon.

An almost blank canvas/clean slate of players for next season seems like the only realistic and sensible approach available to all parties concerned. We live in interesting times

I agree with Mooney and RobT here. Seems glaringly obvious and if we can see it then I wonder why Morris hasn’t seen it.

Maybe he has seen it but as already mentioned, there could be other factors at play hampering any progress. Seems like it's a very toxic situation currently where some people are purely acting in self preservation mode and disinterested in making all the sums of the parts work in even an average type of way.

I think what this MDT is showing is that not many of us are interested in what really happens in tomorrow's match v Bradford Barrow, and that is a very sad indictment of STFC - the club I assume all of us love in some shape or form.

It is very tempting to think that a right back who is good at attacking and bad at defending should be played higher up the pitch.

But the thing they are often best at is attacking from deep, where they have a bit more space and time.

It's fine to have Hutton at right back as long as you have a good defensive right centre half (McDonald..) and a left back who doesn't overcommit himself forward (FBT).

I'm just thinking with my Nathan Byrne hat on. Admittedly Hutton is a Poundland version but it is worth a punt.

What I'd give for a Miguel Comminges at RB right now. I'd also take a Rossi Branco at CB above anything currently here too.

I never got the Rossi Branco hate. He must have the greatest agent in football. Relegated to the EFL basement, secures transfer to Boavista. Outstanding work.

Even Comminges got a pretty decent move to Cardiff from us at the time. Not bad for someone who played a bit in lower league France, came to Town after being scouted by Sturrock and a season later he was in the Championship with Cardiff for three years.

I could be wrong but with Cardiff he was only goal difference away from being in the POs to the Premier League. Meaning he could easily have been a Premier League player just yrs into his English Football career. As fickle as football is though he got injured and before long was making his way back down the leagues - still would have O6 Comminges in this side.

I thought he was a player that was going to be at Town for a while, in a similar way that I naively thought Paul Sturrock would be also

Hutton strikes me as the kind of player like Bale, Walcott, Deolefeo (?sp) and Leighton Baines who all seemed to benefit from being shifted further up the pitch.

Now playing in Polska apparently for Radomiak Radom...

His performance at the Slave Traders in 2015 was utterly sublime and a thing of beauty.

Just a shame we lost 3-0  :doh:

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/12880052.town-yet-to-hear-from-fa-on-brancos-unacceptable-forearm/

I remember him putting in a tackle down in our own corner near the Stratton bank that was so robust it went out for a goal kick up by the Town End. Anything but powderpuff.

My brother speaks to Sol Davis now and again. That’s a tackler/maimer!

Would appear we’re now going to this dead rubber, with the proviso that if we are losing at half time then we’re off.

On form and games in hand we were heading for exactly where we are now.

All reasonable points but can we nail the myth that this season Reed was anything but hopeless?

Gladwin was a much bigger loss on this season's form alone, and if you'd have told me that in June I'd have laughed at you.

Interestingly right from the outset I said to the DNA that Gladwin would be a big piece in this seasons jigsaw, especially as we had such a young squad. Had a few dud matches but really looked the part when he put his mind to it.

Much better than Kadji/Cain and Macdonald is an immense loss, even though he couldn't pass.

When Morris took over, if Bradford had won their notional "game in hand", STFC would have slipped from 6th to 7th

http://swindon-town-fc.co.uk/LeagueTable.asp?Date=2023-1-28

I have been saying all season I would prefer to see Hutton played as an out and out winger/wide man not having to defend, I think he could do well there with Lavinier behind him in a 442/451 formation.

I have also said I would like to see Clayton in DMC, its a role he played at Liverpool for their U23s and for Scotland U21s so he must know the role, play him in front of Brewitt and Minturn.

I wouldnt mind this line up. Fuck all to lose TBH.

                        Brynn
Lavinier     Brewitt      Minturn        FBT
                       Clayton
Hutton      Khan       McEachran    Wakeling/RHM
                       Austin

Hutton further forward *could* work, but I don't think it will.

It's all well and good saying he won't have to worry about defending, but when you play further forward it's not as easy to receive the ball in promising areas. A lot of the time you have your back to goal, you're tightly marked and have to find space for yourself.

When Hutton receives the ball as an attacking right back, he's often the spare man and can immediately face up his defender one on one.

True but McEachran is an upgrade in my opinion

Not bad but,for me Williams instead of Khan

I really hope we don’t waste any more minutes on Kadji today, he’s a complete waste of space and playing him doesn’t even benefit us other than saving some £’s I guess. I dread finding out we’ve already agreed to take him next season or something like that.

Please don't, I'm trying to have an enjoyable Saturday  :D

Good point, I agree.

Yeah I cant decide if I would pick Williams but if RHM plays instead of Austin then I would put Williams in. For me hes been ok recently but not excelled as we all know he can do, hes not been very consistant.

Always a good option off the bench though.

I like George and agree that he is an upgrade on this seasons Reed, but I am not sure that he is an upgrade on last seasons Reed yet, and that is part of the problem with the current recruitment policy - we should be trying to match or better last seasons players, not this.  Having said that, the fact that Morris has said he wants George here next season is a good thing IMO, it is the other midfielders that we need to work on/replace.

Swindon 1-2 Barrow
Khan to score
Att 8,321 (244 Barras)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FtwKSp_XoAAelqh?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

Austin and Clayton back is good to see.

Hopefully that's four at the back with FBT left back, but I fear it's 5-3-2 with Wakeling LWB.

Gone past caring muchly. Team always looks decent - always disappoints.

This.
Also this.

I feel like it has been an age since Aguiar was in match day squad - I assume he is not reaching his purported potential or has fallen out with JM?

Poor at Torquay apparently so not a surprise. That’s the concerning thing, none of our fringe players even look good enough for the national league when out on loan.

I thought this but I think someone on here back along referred to them as "the golden generation" although that may have been tongue in cheek to be fair

Of course, we gave him a three year contract last summer. The lack of joined up thinking between DoF and coaching staff is... not ideal (of course, it was a different coaching staff then, but it's not like Lindsey seemed to rate him much either).

Right,seen that line up and gonna slap a tenner on a Town win. Hopefully be able to cash out decent on 80 minutes!

Aguiar this season has looked slower than Austin so whilst he may have some technical ability the game just passes him by.

Two goals ahead payout is quite good for Town. You could easily bet on a Town win. Get the payout and then back, at pretty decent odds for the other team to win from behind.

Hope its four at the back, I have bad memories of 3 or 5 at the back in previous games. Not that i care much at the moment.

I have the exact same fear. It hasn’t worked yet, so no reason why he’d persist with it

5- 1 win today in front  of a 9155 crowd. :pint:

I think the crowd will be 1000 less but you may have the score right😀

I actually don't hate the "three at the back" bit - I think as long as FBT is one of the three playing as a left footed Kyle Walker, that works okay. It's just Wakeling is not a left wing back, and we're ruining a promising striker's confidence playing himn there.

Not a fan of 3 of the back full stop. However, in Hutton & Tomlinson we have two players who you could argue their best position would be as wing backs…but…don’t think we’ve played Tomlinson at wing back yet.

…and for fuck sake don’t play Wakeling their again…but that’s what I’m expecting.

And the rest. A massive wake up call for the club today, ground is dead and no queues at any of the kiosks. Realistically despite whatever they announce there’s 6k at most here.

For some reason I’ve included STFC in my acca

Have you ever won backing Swindon? :D

Only under di Canio

Talking of PDC, Fabrizio Picaretta is in the director's box along with Angus, Di Michele and Zav, according to the radio.

Barrow have the Play offs in their sights whilst we have fuck all. Even when the players had something to play for they couldn't be arsed. 3-1 barrow, Swindon to go into the lead.

I have no idea why I’m here now I have sat down in my seat.

It does look to be four at the back.

It does so far, doesnt mean it will stay that way though!

That move then was exactly why I dont think Hutton is a fullback.

Pox losing already

To be fair that was really good play from the two attackers, not sure that would be exhibit A on the problems with Hutton defensively!

You're probably right but many season ticket holders are staying away as well as the floating fan can't be arsed

Totally agree.

Clayton got lucky there holding the striker as the ball came in, and Brewitt a little lucky with that challenge seconds after.

It was a nice move by Barrow but Hutton was in totally the wrong position defensively, far too far up the pitch.

Great result for Cambridge today

Wakeling did well to beat his man but the cross was woeful at the end of it.

McEachran moving forwards with the ball through the middle of the pitch - did you know that was allowed?

Nice move by Williams to Austin but he slices his shot and then his cross is too deep.

Then FBT wins the ball and finds Austin on the edge of the box and fires well over the bar.

Barrow CB gone off injured.

How the hell was that a foul by Williams?

I think the ref gave the second one for jumping in to the Barrow player, rather than the one where the player stayed down.

Interesting moment there - Brynn comes out to claim a cross (good) and then goes long straight away to RHM (even more surprising). Doesn't come to much but suggests a slight change in approach.

Good take by Brynn and quick long kick to RHM but a tangle of feet will always end on the side of the defender in that position.

Good save by Brynn.

That looked a foul on Williams to me.

Got a lot of the ball cleanly with the lead leg, but one of those where the other leg does the damage.

It's not been anything special so far but we're playing alright, really.

Indeed.

Barrow seem content to let us play.

Lovely break from Town there, cant get a shot in though.

Town win a corner.

Town win another corner.

Town win another corner.

Is that like a win?

Yep 3 corners should equal 1 goal!

Brynn makes an easy low save.

For all that we've looked the better team, Barrow have created two good chances and we haven't had a shot on target yet. This is more like the Lindsey games earlier in the season - which is progress compared to the last few weeks I suppose.

Fucking iFollow replays mean we miss about 40 seconds of the game.

Another easy low save by Brynn after the Barrow players breaks half the length of the pitch unchallenged.

Glorious ball from FBT to put Williams one on one and the keeper does really well to push him wide.

Williams so close to scoring after a great pass by FBT.

Beautifully timed run by Williams.  Reminiscent of the one that got him our late consolation v Mansfield.

Another corner to Town.

Williams probably should have done better with the final ball but still a great chance.

Looked to me like he was waiting to be brought down for the penalty rather than thinking about scoring, but that might not be fair.

I would agree on that, he feigned a stumble at one point just before the keeper came out.

I was going to say exactly the same

Brynn makes a good claim from that cross.

We all agree! What a happy place this is! 😂

Austin curled shot/cross and Williams cant get to the ball at the far post, nice move.

Surprisingly Swindon are the only 1 letting me down for my acca.

Come to fuck, Town!

TBF its been a fairly entertaining game so far.

Decent delivery from Brewitt there but its cleared.

At least it looks like some effort is being put in today, compared to the Easter double header.  Effort, performance, result - we got none of those 3 over Easter, we have at least 1 of the 3 so far which is a positive, hopefully the other 2 will come if we continue to improve.

Agree.

Austin not getting much joy on the crosses against the huge CB today so far.

How was that a foul *on* RHM haha?

3 mins added time.

Not sure I agreed there with the ref!

Feels like one of our better games early season under Lindsey here - clearly the better footballing side, by far the majority of the possession (65%) but haven't actually had a shot on target (details, schmetails) whilst the opposition have had one or two dangerous moments that we've got away with mostly thanks to Brynn. It's a big improvement on recent weeks, we actually look to be playing with a structure and plan of sorts, but still have the familiar weaknesses at either end of the pitch. Williams prominent in a way that he hasn't been much since the WC as well.

RHM down under challenge in the box holding his head.

Again I agree with all that.

Ditto

HT 0-0

Far too collegiate on here today, someone must have a rogue opinion. Where's DV when you need him?

Pre season friendly atmosphere around the ground. In noise and numbers.

2 poor teams playing out the season, seem in control but we’re bound to gift them a goal at some point.

I know its early but Brewitt looks a half decent footballer today so far.

Expectations are low most seem to be happy today. Barrow are poor too, I somewhat overestimated them earlier.

It’s a really dull game, but actually an improvement on recent weeks which just emphasises how crap it has been

Exactly this.

Lots of possession, but still no quality in the final third. Not too much effort from Barnett either.

Thought Brewitt has played well in the first half. Clayton has been quietly efficient too.

Williams has seemed busy.

The ball has been bouncing off McEachran a lot too!

Concourse is dead at half time as well.  Can’t remember the last time the CG was this quiet.

Just shows how hard the club have stuck it in reverse this season - reletively happy with effort being shown, even though based on that 1st half performance, the best you would probably expect based on chances on goal is a draw.

No matter what improvements we see for the rest of the season, papering over the cracks of this shit show of a season is just not possible - and this is why we need to hear from the club on what the fuck they are going to do about it, if anything.  Giving one of your youth prospects his first pro contract won't cut it, and if they think it will, we have bigger problems than we thought.

it's not terrible by recent standards. willo should have scored. we are the better team mostly

that said they've tested Brynn more than we have their keeper. luckily all the shots have been straight at him and tame

A clash of two limited sides . Not expecting much for the second half

Even Sandro is here today, all the rumours of ‘good news’ just seems like a load bollocks. Seems like they thought the EFL award and the youth contract would be enough to make us all happy again.

Barrow dont look a side challenging for the play offs, they lok a very limited side but are creating chances on the break still.

We know we are a mid table side, the game is not beyond us but we need a bit of luck to win this. Not creating enough chances.

Not saying this is an end of season piss about, but the Barrow keeper just did a 360 spin before taking a goal kick for... no reason at all.

I also don't think its a coincidence that we have gone 4 at the back and look a better side today.

Barrow has a shot high and wide.

Let’s hope they aren’t playing with a keep it tight til 1/2 time then step it up in the 2nd half mentality

Makes it even more frustrating that we found a way to fuck up a season in such a poor league in which in previous seasons we would comfortably be in the play off spaces at a minimum.

Let's hope Clem is as pissed off as we are

Absolutely, this seasons league is as poor a standard as I think I have seen us participate in.

We should easily be in the play offs, even with this limited squad.

When he first came into the team McEachran was a good dead ball taker, that seems to have disappeared recently.

I think the reason why Williams stood out in the first half is because he is the only one moving and pulling the defence around. Everyone else wants to receive the ball motionless and play a slide rule pass to a static partner. Williams looks to be trying to run into space.

Austin drifting wide a lot, he's put a couple of decent crosses in, but you really want him in the box rather than delivering into it.

RHM goes to ground in the box, no penalty though.

Reputation precedes him, you'd imagine. Didn't think there was very much in that. Nice ball forward from Hutton to him though!

Town stepping up a bit in the second half.

I like that we are seing the FBT we know today, put him in his familiar position and he plays well, who would have thunk it..

Unlikely

And Brewitt playing as a pair of CB's not in a 3.

Is he still involved, not seen him since the season started going to shit!!

Think it might take an actual murder for this referee to consider booking someone.

They are all over Williams every time he has the ball, hes definately been singled out for special treatment today.

Hutton wins us a corner.

Clayton wins the header but it loops over the bar.

Att: 8,080 (147 Barra)

Attendances starting to fall....Will be down to 6k by the end of the season

Cleared off the line by Clayton.

Barrow corner headed off the line by Clayton with Brynn well beaten.

Absolutely nowhere near that actually in the ground.

Again, we're ten times better than them in the middle third of the pitch, but they're the team having chances to score.

The reality is probably much lower when you take out the non-attending ST holders

How often has that happened this season? must be in double figures.

Fuck me a booking.

I am expecting us to concede soon

RHM great break and is then fouled on the edge of the box.

Another spectacular iFollow replay there means we miss what I think may have been a Swindon shot on target (dribbled through to the keeper)

Fucking iFollow replays FFS.

Not bad if I say so myself😀

Swindon 1 Barrow 1 Att: 8,010 (150 Wheelbarrows)

Ifollow replays must be AI surely.. 

Corrected.

Must be close to making subs and conceding a goal.

It must be Ronan Darcy time soon!

Austin looks knackered, I would probably get Shade on to give us a bit of extra pace up front. Not many other options on the bench though for me.

Na,Kadji. We're going for a win!

Again iFollow replays make us miss a break by Town.

I'm surprised Barrow aren't chucking the kitchen sink at us as they really need a win.

They are, they just arent very good TBH.

I get,from Bodin's commentary that Ray is a little on the large side

That makes it even worse knowing we should have been in the top seven

Austin seems to be deliberately playing wide left with Wakeling through the middle. Which I'm not convinced is a sensible use of him.

I’m losing interest in this game. Realised I’ve been browsing the internet for cycling shoes rather than watching!

No I would agree, counter intuitive.

I have enjoyed this more than almost any other Town game under Morris, says how shit it has been recently TBH.

Austin himself admitted that when he gets tired he moves out to the left more - he is doing exactly that

Not disputing that, but we dont look (or sound) like scoring

I'm sorry to report that Dylan Kadji is waiting on the touchline.

Shade for Wakeling
Kadji for McEachran (looked like he had a knock)

Let's hope next season we can keep him in the box whee he's needed plus it will save his energy

Shade and Kadji on for McEachran (injured) and Wakeling.

This has been boring as fuck.

However, considering we keep losing a full, boring, back to basics 0-0* might not be the worst thing to do.


*assuming we don’t conceded in the last 10 as seems to be the norm for us.

That is quite the assumption to make.

No shots on target to date!

Fucking Kadji, it just gets more ridiculous. He’s not even National league standard, not our player and yet he keeps getting minutes.

Surely it has to be an agreement with Bristol City

I don't care if leaving Kadji out costs us money.Surely we can end his spell?

No but we have had 8 shots so far, a few have been close TBH but we cant seem to get that final touch in the box.

That's the problem it may well be down to money

Controversial view time: Kadji isn't any less of a footballer than Shade. They're both tall and mobile, so I can see why managers think they can make something of them, but both look like they've never actually seen a football before and make the wrong decisions every time.

Shade is at least *our* player though I suppose.

Agreed

…this was explained last week.
We all know how loan deals work. Why does this still shock people?

Darcy on for Williams.

We’ve had a few young loanees who looked proper shite with us who’ve gone on and done OK.

Ben House being one.

Because surely his wages aren’t high enough to mean we can’t not play him. If we are really at that level of penny pinching then I despair.

SHOT ON TARGET!

:clap:

Yep that's what I was getting at. And does the same not apply to Jephcott? Suppose not

Not sure how anyone could genuine form an opinion of him with only 145 minutes of 1st team football for Swindon.

Hasnt happened for me yet! Looking forward to it!!

Being a more senior player, I imagine we're paying Jephcott's wages in full regardless. The appearances thing tends to be more about "experience" loans.

RHM….Ooooohhh!

Not stopping people judging Khadji

Bad decision by the ref calling that foul by Hutton.

Soft foul against Hutton gives Barrow a free kick in the far corner. This feels like the moment we usually concede from.

True, I do remember House looked an ok player though, Kadji, not so convinced yet.

He’s been abysmal for us, we’ve seen enough of him to form that opinion.

Khan with a terrible shot from a good position. Hes been poor today for me.

Admiral Muskwe has gone up a league

FT 0-0

At least we didnt lose.

Sigh

Boring rubbish. I can't wait for this season to end.

effort and organisation 9/10
craft, quality and attack 2/10

Agreed. Totally ineffective today.

Jesus! Was Brynn trying to lose it in the last seconds?

Pretty much this.

Simple MotM today. Brewitt.

Can’t be arsed to listen to Morris. Off to mow the lawn

What a sad state of affairs when we are relieved to not have lost to Barrow for fucks sake. Piss poor!  :doh:

any movement at snails pace.  no  one driving us forward - only in circles.

clean sheet not to be sniffed at but for a play off contender Barrow looked like they were on the beach.

I have a feeling Bradford on Tuesday will be a couple of notches up in terms of a test.

Agreed.

Classy display in fact.

Glad I didn’t waste my time going today.  How is Morris making this team look so bad.  Losing Gladwin, Read and McDonald shouldn’t have resulted in this.  Enough is enough Morris is a mistake they need to get rid before he takes us into the national league

I went. It was as expected.

Hope the bus wasn't early😀

I don’t think it a simple case of ‘sack morris and go again’ am I correct in saying he’s on a 2 year contract? And then that would mean paying him off. I don’t think Clem has that kind of disposable income!  
Im in the camp of, fuck sandro off, leave him and his team in charge of recruitment next year, and then judge him.

I was actually glad we kept a clean sheet

Two good results for our ex managers today!

Tomlinson out for circa 3 weeks.

Morris wants him for next season but "whether or not that possible is another question".

It’s not his wages. It’s the loan fee.

Loan fee is agreed at x.
Per game player is agreed at y.
Every time he plays x - y.
The more games played the lower the fee.

Wondering why it might not be "possible" if it was agreed by the clubs and he "wants him"?

I get that but surely we still have the choice not to play him? It would be worth the extra cost not to have him near the team

Judging by recent results he's no worse than any of the others!

He is though

…or just do what we are doing. Bring him on for a few minutes at the end and save ourselves some money.

He looked half decent when he made his debut it must be down to Morris😀

But it’s penny pinching in the extreme though. We’ve got our own players like Cain who we paid money for not in the squad because of it, it’s pathetic.

everything at the moment is screaming "severely skint" to me

I agree it's not fair on our own players but this deal seems to have been set up in desperation when we were struggling to get anyone in as the hours went by on the last day of the transfer window.

on the plus side:
- we are mathematically safe
- FGR are relegated
- Oxford out of bottom 4 on GD

Jimmy, every one of your opinions is based on radio commentary
You can’t have an opinion on any of them based on that, it’s really annoying me.

Sorry Quaggy it's an open forum where I'm entitled to my opinion. For the record I was nowhere near the radio today and have seen him play a couple of times but based on what I've seen I'm unsure of his ability hence me asking the question.

What a boring way to spend a decent spring afternoon.


A lot can change in a year, last time we played them the ground was packed out and we felt like we were on the way back up. Probably about 6k in the ground today, TE very very sparce, and we look like a club going nowhere, making up the numbers in the basement... Still at least Clem loves the club.

When have you seen him play?

On the pitch where do you think

Yep...

Lowest Saturday attendance of the season.  It’s going to get worse before it gets better

I can guarantee we won't have a lower gate on a Saturday for the rest of the year (ok season)

I hope you mean season Batch not year!

https://twitter.com/declan_pike/status/1647285954766336000?s=46&t=zTEFtfTXjK-SAydvgY6uiw

The reality is even more depressing, 6k tops there which means 2k season ticket holders didn’t bother?

they're the same thing in my head.

this year is 22/23
next year is 23/24

Baffling that Barrow looked to be playing for the draw from half time given our form, had they got the win they'd only be 2 points off the playoffs. Ref was awful today but at least he was consistently awful for each side. FWIW thought Shade did worse than Kadji. Hopefully will install a bit of confidence in the team.

I see where your coming from now that you've edited

It's time for a Zodiac prediction. Mars is in the ascendant so we will be the last game on the Football League Show tonight!

Wow the highlights on sky.  Shocking if that was as good as it got. 

.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1RvUS7QpRjc

Another performance where Austin not interested. Not pointing, like a striker should, where he wants the ball. Hands on hips all the time. Happy to bin him off.

Williams was good. Totally opposite. Never stopped running.

Not sure why we always had 11 men behind the ball on set pieces.

My lad was more interested in practicing doing his shoe laces than watching the football.

I think I can answer that question - trying to avoid conceding from them at all costs, bearing in mind how recent weeks have gone.

First time watching Austin Sippo? He's always been like that.

He was useful in defence today, pointless in attack as no service though he did have a couple of avoidable offsides.

Completely agree about the 11 men behind the ball though. Stick RHM or Wakeling on the half way line and pull out a couple of defenders.

Midfield needs a complete overhaul.

Not at all Batch. Just making the point. He's just not interested. That's my opinion, and mine only.

8k attendance but seemed a lot less.

I disagree, so there !

8k has to include season ticket holders not present. To be honest the DRS didn't feel as empty as I thought it would while sitting there, but then I saw a picture from the arkells and it sure looked empty.
------
Regardless of Austin we really need to sort the supply issue out.

RHM isn't exactly shit, but has no footballing brain. Movement isn't great out of possession.

Wakeling should be up top with Austin, not wide

khan is good one game, crap 3

mcE is alright but not sure I'd have him and khan in the same team.

Hutton is either marked out the game or finding it though going. Crosses are more miss than hit.

Darcy has his moments but ultimately see Khan..

Williams was probably the brightest of the bunch but his set pieces (corners) were poor.

kadji isn't a ball player type

I believe by the way, that we are mathematically safe from relegation as of today! Might have fucked up the maths but I don't think we can drop further than 22nd even if every result goes against us.

we are indeed

We are absolutely shite.
Another 90 minutes of pure dross. Summed up perfectly at the end when the ball squared to Khan to shoot and he did injuring himself.

Not a pot to piss in policy.
Had a gut full of this shite week in and week out.

Was it really that bad....????

Bad every week mate.
Stinks of not having a pot to piss in.
Unless we drastically change pre season we are seriously looking at a relegation battle.
Unreal today, attacking at home and rarely had one player in the 18 yard box, Barrow defence found it easy. Austin having to come out wide most of the second half.

I can’t believe this even got asked.

Just typical of our fans.
Stop conceding from set pieces !!!
(We stick 11 men behind the ball)
Why are we putting 11 men behind the ball at set pieces ? *angry face*

….also love how many people managed to count the fans & know exactly how many were there.

Still we are back to being shit on the pitch, all sorts of rumours about off the pitch, fans all convinced we haven’t got a pot to piss in - the type of misery our fans fucking love and live for. Swindon Town are back. Cant wait for the cries of ‘never going again’ from the fans that go every week & continue to do so because without moaning about STFC what else have they got?

Relegation already on the cards next season, just what the club need - fucking love it…

At least Tom Broadbent has had a good season… every cloud

Honestly don’t think it’s because we are skint (as has already been posted we’ve used 41 players this season), the problem is the money hasn’t been spent in the right areas.

Heard a rumour yesterday that makes some sense, apparently Lindsey was a bit of a soft touch when it came to the players, but Morris is a bit more of a disciplinarian and some of them don’t like it.
Hope this is true, he just needs to learn how to give them a bollocking

More likely the players need how to accept a bollocking.

For me, it’s the midfield that needs a complete overhaul. Austin, Wakeling, RHM are easily good enough for challenging in L2. 

Brewitt, Clayton, FBT, Tomlinson, Minturn, Hutton/Lavinier ditto.

While some of the midfielders are individually good enough they are all too similar in style and physically. Nobody protects the defence and getting the ball into dangerous areas is nowhere near good enough.

I know a few on here would say bin the lot of them but that isn’t possible. Whatever budget we will have must be used to get the midfield upgraded.

I don't think it's hyperbolic or hysterical to conclude that...

1. The Club is probably skint
2. Unless something pretty drastic happens over the next couple of months we are going to be looking at  a relegation dog fight next season.

That should be pretty clear to even the most casual observer. To see things differently you would have to be in denial and I'm pretty sure that no one is enjoying the current situation we find ourselves in.

Most of the clubs at this level are skint.
We won’t be in a relegation scrap next season.
Our fans live for the misery.

I think those that travel to watch it week in and week out will feel the same.
Less anger yesterday, most around me were actually laughing as to how bad we are.

Our budget is by no means near the top end of the League. Not that it is the be and end all, more about the quality however if you are relying on the second biggest gates in the League for income you need to wake up because that is likely to reduce.
We have cut our budgets drastically.

You have no idea on our budget and how that compares to other teams.
Our attendances will drop but not as drastically as people are predicting. They will still be top 3/4 in this league.

That's just not true though. We have spent money on transfer fees and wages. We have added Austin and at the begining of the season added Macdonald on decent wages. Williams isn't on fuck all either. Players like Cain and Clayton will not be leaving Liverpoool on contracts and half decent wages to earn nothing.

The issue is what we have spent the money on for me, it is really really shit, but we have spent money

Some improvement in last couple of games since Mansfield.
It's a very low bar though.
Is trying to go unbeaten in next 5 games too much to ask for?
At least try and end the season on a positive note.

Noticed in the programme that Barrow's squad list had 22 names, ours had 38.
Any more & they'll have to use a smaller font.
That list needs to be trimmed to something between 25-30 including the usual sprinkling of JPT hopefuls.

As mentioned in another thread Rob Angus in his programme notes did acknowledge that "we know we have got things wrong this season and that you deserve better than the results we've been delivering" and also
"we are listening though and will make changes to ensure our recruitment is better, and you have my word that we will put together a budget and team that is capable of promotion next season, with the right balance of experience and youth".

No mention made of putting Sandro in a pillory in the town centre which might displease some.

You would be surprised.
Still expecting our crowds next season to be top 5.
Clearly the potential 2 coming up from the National League. Let’s hope we address the physicality in midfield as a starter.

Pretty on the ball once again yesterday but no cutting edge.
Austin once again feeding on scraps and not enough time in and around the 18 yard box.

Yes I heard the Angus comments, we just have to be hopeful that they are planning now and not waiting for the loan giveaways.

Reg would be telling us all that it’s nearly time to switch off from football, and concentrate on the cricket season.

That’s what I’m doing. I’m a ST holder, but the seats have been empty for a couple of games now. It’s not that I don’t care, I really do - but it’s not been entertaining and it’s difficult to throw emotional effort into a side that’s clearly incapable - or in the case of some, capable but don’t have professionalism to put the effort in. The shining beacon of hope is that we have a CEO who will know exactly how we feel - a voice in the camp - and his words above reflect ours. The open criticism of recruitment surely confirms that SDM has gone. Clean slate next season. Learn from this season. Start again.

Wimbledon next week we’ve sold out, will be seeing the last 5 out but only the loyalty card now.
Pissed off with STFC absolute shambles.
Of course it can be redeemed but the honeymoon period long gone, major concerns have never gone away with me who is actually running the club.

ah come on, it isn't as stupid point as you are making out. you've played football enough to see the other side of the argument.

yes 11 people back gives you more defenders. but out also brings 11 apponents into your half too.  There are always some that can't defend.

if you stick someone on the half way line that's useless in the air, it least it brings back a couple of opponents out the danger area

defending isn't just about numbers. Thankfully barrow messed up most of their crossing opportunities, though we still had to clear one off the line

That is pretty much my take on it too.

Oh, boo-hoo.

Some of these players were crap under a soft touch and now they're crap under a disciplinarian.  The common denominator is clear to see.

A glass half empty poster complaining about fans being glass half empty - classic TEF

Wrexham and Bradford will be up there unless Bradford get prom this season.

I am willing to bet a considerable amount that at no point when we had 11 men behind the ball to defend a set piece Barrow sent all 11 of their players to attack said set piece.

they were all comfortably in our half on free kicks and done corners.

You can see 9 in this capture alone.

I get 7 v 10 in the box should give us an advantage and cover more space, but only if all 10 can actually defend.


All I'm saying is it's not stupid to ask if we should have someone around half way line to chase a clearance

Tough watch but like Monday, not shit but could still be out there now without scoring!

We are now officially safe! Phew!

Fans are now indifferent and my personal take is that some stalwarts stayed away and those that attended laughed off the performance rather than moan about it.

Was it a Pen? I stand in the far end of the TE and it looked like it to me but my ususal pre match sherberts might of misted my vision.

Probably go on Tuesday, i have a pick of three STs that arent being used.

Even if we had left one up. They’d still have left one back and pushed the same 9 forward.
I get asking the question if we did it for every set piece all season but considering how many we’ve conceded in rest weeks - I understand the logic in playing it as safe as possible.

Totally missed this game and, as sad as it is to draw at home with Barrow, a clean sheet feels like a step forward from where we've been. It sounds like Brewitt had a decent game and I definitely think he has shown that he is good enough to be in a L2 squad for us next year. Easy to forget that both he and McEachran had no preseason and have come in off the scrapheap and been asked to play almost every minute since they arrived, which is no mean feat. It shows a high degree of professionalism to have physically maintained themselves so well on their own. 

.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dQUz6XDBqJs

Whilst Rob, and I take Clem, have confirmed that changes in recruitment will happen next season with the necessary funds available,  can I ask,  what will a convicted money laundering drug dealer and a bookies runner bring to the club next year if at least one of them will be not required.

Oh come on no team leaves a team 1 on 1 at the back from a corner, if a team leaves 1 up front the defensive team will leave 2 back. That’s absolutely basic stuff.

that's fair

it was just the tone of your original post reading line you'd have to be an idiot to suggest such a thing.

in any case, we didn't concede. so it worked

They can talk the talk but i wont believe it until we see hard evidence of change

Oh, yeah I meant it was an odd question to ask certainly within the context of how our defending of set pieces has been recently. I wouldn’t advocate it on every single set piece over a whole season.

I think that's fair enough tans.

goes to show how easy it is to misinterpret things on the internet :)

This. So much this.


I'm not convinced he is any type of professional footballer, if I'm honest.

Was half expecting a comedy bit of just the kick off and full time whistle.

Ooh, do I get one?

I liked the distant "we hate Oxford chant" 😀

From what I read and viewed from the highlights it didn't look a 'classic'.

Zav, Hart (I think it was him) and Sandro pictured together in the padded seats area is a bit of a middle finger to the fans in my opinion. Given the clear discontent of the fanbase and the absolute wall of silence from the club in what is an absolutely crucial period to get season ticket money in to build a promotion winning side next season is concerning.

Unfortunately given that Clem has yet to make any changes to the footballing operation side, suggests to me that Clem's hands are tied with being able to do anything. I should caveat that I know absolutely nothing about what is happening behind the scenes at the club and I might have been listening to Sandy Shaw's eurovision song a few too many times this morning!

Gristwood (Platinum Heavy) was the third musketeer.

Cheers MPM, who is he then?

Was he another name from the Power era? Or am I thinking of another name from a security company, Dolph maybe?

Same bloke, Power associate (just like everyone else is/once was).

Security guard come tree surgeon who was/is Powers hard man. https://twitter.com/SamMorshead_/status/1026384992149098497

IIRC was a non-executive director under Power.

Him being at the ground with Austin is just plain odd if we are to believe as suggested previously that Austin was ruffed up previously at the behest of Power?

Everything about the current set up could generously be described as "odd."

It calls to mind the lyrics of The Who song 'We Won't Get Fooled Again,' (ironically we probably have been) which are "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

Clem literally said Austin got battered in his statement introducing Zav, think many on here know it was linked to the LP era and hence Clem getting that out in public, would also say its highly unlikely it was platinum security firm who filled Zav in - will be someone much higher up in the unofficial foodchain of heavyweights.

Oh FFS. Even more alarm bells. This is fine.

Yep.

I want Clem to be the real deal, but i fear all these skeletons lurking in the shadows make it plausible he is the 'clean' front man to a more nefarious group. The silence from him right now is deafening, given we were previously told from RA hes on the phone multiple times a day and really hands on.

Not sure i would be putting Gristwood in with Powers hard men probably a bit unfair. Gristwood from my understanding(may be wrong) was also fucked over by our previous owner and has a security contract with the club. I imagine all hos work is actually ducumented and paid for properly this time around too.

I honestly wouldn't read into him being at the club

Are they skeletons lurking in the shadows if they are sat in the Directors' box lording it up? The fact that they are hiding in plain sight makes me all the more concerned about most STFC fans' ability to think critically, as if the Power era wasn't bad enough. Turns out a bucket hat and a hand pulled pint are all that an illusionist requires these days. Watch out David Copperfield!

If these are the people deemed fit enough to be on public display, i shudder to think whos in the shadows!


We're just a magnet for wrong'uns arent we  :no:

This is swindon, that alarm bell never stops  :cry:

Genuine question though, what has Gristwood done?

AKA Dolph.

So much so that one of Powers companies is still registered to BGs address for YE 31 March 2022?

If i had a fallout with someone, i wouldnt allow them to use my address (or on the flipside wouldnt have any correspondence sent to that address).

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07837783/officers

I recognise the name.

Yes

Talking of powers various companies I have always wondered what he was/is using SALUBRITAS ET INDUSTRIA LIMITED for?

Do the Tom Broadbent people still do the pre-match 'entertainment' out of interest? Or was that dropped after the Carlisle effort?

It was on this week. I didn't really notice it being annoying, just enthusiastic which I guess irritates some.

Mind you I think the DRS speakers are working again but they aren't great.

Horses for courses Batch.

The Tom Broadbent guys have definitely calmed themselves since their first attempt.

I don't mind them too much, but I found the cries of bullying after the Carlisle game to be rather childish. Rather than accepting it for the car crash that it was.

Yeah agreed, i didnt actually see any personal abuse (which i would of course condemn if there was any)- just people calling it out for what it was.

You cant give it the biggun singing McKirdy songs to Carlise fans and then start crying when people dont like it.


Hows this one looking btw :girlgiggle:

https://twitter.com/stfcHanners/status/1556110362046513152

The condescending tone  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I mean, fair play for not deleting that. But er, less fair play for tweeting it in the first place!

Seems a well meaning chap but totally blinded to reality by being given a little bit of access. As I have said before the LS Pod has improved since they were kicked out of the tent.

Yeah LS Pod are decent. They seem to capture my mood quite accurately every time.

Wow, that's a rotten tweet.  I do vaguely remember the live space at the time, was quite bullish/dismissive of people who didn't share the same sentiment. They (Broadbent lounge) mean well and any free stfc content is welcome... but the execution and views are definitely questionable at times. Opinions and arseholes. I listen in from time to time, a guy called Nigel contributes sometimes - makes for great listening.

Also found it a little bizarre he used a picture of the women team to counter the slogan on banner that was outside the CG. Everyone is bang within their rights to express all views, i 100% back this with all things regarding the club, whether that be you defending/supporting or calling/questioning something at the club, but this felt abit like point scoring with a team (STFC women) that you'd assume had no relevance to the banner...

They have the relationship with club and have the access that LSPOD and Fools rush in don't, so be ideal if they get Angus or Clem on very soon to answer some fan questions.

LSPOD always has been the original and premium STFC content for me. Paved the way for these other local outlets to have audiences to watch their stuff. They held club account to again around 30 mins on the post barrow episode. Ive said it a few times already but if you haven't, listen to Dan Hunt talk about the clubs arrogance towards supporters on the post Hartlepool ep- fantastic listen. Fools Rush in is really good content also - straight talking guys. No wonder neither get the access haha.

 

The fans medias approach to calling the club out and the correlation with access to the club itself perfectly demonstrates why having a Supporters Trust so close to the club is a huge red flag for me, and many others.

Speaking of which, where are the trust? Very quiet- should be banging the drum for a fans forum per the clubs charter and EFL guidelines.

Last summer I spoke to someone who is involved in the background with STBL and I found it odd how much disdain they had for the loathed strangers and also to Vic Morgan.

They 100% overvalue their own importance to the fanbase.

As evidenced by most people pre Carlisle asking "Who the hell is this bloke?"

I'd be surprised if they reach 1% of our whole fanbase.

Another example of the club having no idea what they are really doing. Without wishing to go all 'culture wars' I do think they have a slightly woke approach that completely ignores most 'legacy fans.' It is all social media, sustainability officers and womens' football.

I'd much rather hear a phone in on BBC Wilts with Clem/Aberdeen/Sandro or, for the craic, Zav himself.

Legacy fans was exactly the phrase I used to someone last week. They are the ones who buy the season tickets, but the club seem to have a (possibly correct) belief these fans will always stick through thick and thin so they don't need to cater for them.

You still have to give these people a warm fuzzy feeling. The club is increasingly turning their back on them, or taking them for granted. Could be fatal.

I'm a legacy fan. I have renewed for next season.

Even so, the goodwill has been sucked out of me and if we repeat this years shenanigans in recruitment and levels next season I'll be faced with a difficult choice. If we can't compete in division 4 what's the point?

I've listened to a few pods this week (LS, SC and WMS), I only usually listen to the LS Pod regularly.

My opinion on what I've heard:
   1. Pods are run by fans. Some may be more "happy clappy" in nature but I think they have converged on views of what's wrong - or at least the pod contributors have. Even the Supporters Club contributors were somewhat critical yesterday (recruitment, Morrisball, etc). They tried to get Sandro on but haven't been able to.

   2. On the WMS the Bradford EFL twitter guy was on there. Seems he does have some inside track into STFC somehow (maybe just through Whelan)> He said he couldn't say much as it could be detrimental  to STFC, but that those that needed to be held accountable for the recruitment this season are being so.

(I've interpreted this as Sandro out but being done carefully/following a procedure, but who knows.)

   3. Tomato sauce on rice just isn't right.

Spot on. Especially now the debt has been 'cleared'. If Burton, Accrington, Morecombe etc etc can get up, why the hell cant we?

Personally not renewing until something changes.

Genuinely feel sad thinking back to the run in last season, some great days in the Spring sun. Fucking rancid right now, just about dragging myself to the CG (and half hoping if were going to lose, can we at least lose early so i can get home earlier). Gave up with aways for this season after Walsall... even the lure of a new ground on Saturday cant tempt me to watch this shite.

Which one is WMS out of interest Batch?

I tried the Broadbent one but didn't enjoy it at all. Have to say the LS content is absolutely perfect for me and is the only one I really bother with.

Fooking hell, I meant Fools Rush IN.. WMS. soapy tit wank.  - they do a vlog via twitter and youtube - though I can never get twitter to work. I only very occasionally dip in.

STBL isn't for me. I'm grumpy and they are optimists! Each to their own. Its silly as it doesn't really affect me but I do find myself a bit miffed they seem to have been appointed "club pod". Nothing against the people doing it though.

We got it wrong. It's what changes to fix it that counts now. Is this long term shit or a blip.

It takes a while to turn a club around, yet I'm not yet feeling this is what's happening.

Is it Fools Rush In you mean? If yes, I've occasionally watched that on Youtube.  it's ok.

Yeah I'm the same as you re the STBL.

yes I do. ooops. Edted.

I did wonder if I had missed a podcast, and I can completely understand why you called it WMS, initially when I was searching on Youtube for it, I did the same as I knew it was 3 words but couldn't remember what they were myself! Logical huh!

These guys just seem like the penis extension that JayBox always wishes he had had done.

I'm sure ''Hanners'' (ffs even that grates on me more than a buck toothed pornstar) is a lovely chap and hindsight and all that bollocks but being so sure of success when you aren't directly connected to a business is such a dick move; even worse is then calling people out for saying they are totally wrong if they think differently.

What makes things a little more annoying is people like this are then given a relatively large platform to spout their bollocks at public events - there are better people to give journalistic opportunities to. But fair fucks for him/them taking said opportunity because when a club takes advantage of securing a cheap gig, you can be sure that the cheap gig will also take advantage of the position/opportunity offered....diminishing professionalism being one of those things.

And if Hanners or any STBL dudes are reading this...

Don’t agree? Your business. Shame you are wrong. Oh so very wrong.

 :soapy tit wank:

I think he's just an optimist tbh bamboo.

we've all got predictions wrong before.

ahem, check the prediction league please Batch!

Joking aside, of course we have got predictions wrong, but for the vast majority, not in such a cocksure, arrogant, condescending tone for many of us.

And exactly why the club picked them to align with.  I think in the early days Rich would have jumped at the chance (and there was a chance) but today i don't think he would touch it with a barge pole.  LSP are happy to have their independence and be able to state their views without having to "run it by" the club first.

Each to their own, I would rather listen to views that are relateable and most of the time resemble what I am seeing on the pitch (even if I don't agree with all of them all of the time) - i certainly don't want to listen to a turd rolling in glitter operation.

Agreed Bernie.

Yeah I'll concede on both notes there mate. There's nothing wrong with either of those things as we can all be guilty of one or both - myself included.

I think it what annoys me is;

See the comments of both Mr Gareth Orange and Mr Bernard Gentleman below  :D

And just one other thing...whilst no crime, I don't particularly enjoy the overly chummy/pally element where it feels like STBL are effectively in bed with STFC but also have their legs spread at every opportunity. Hence the JayBox reference. Keep it professional lads.

My feeling is even the Official STFC Media team/guy and the fella who does the OSTFC match presser interviews don't come across in that cringey 'glitter turd' - nice one Bernie I love it - type of way. For all the bad things about the club, bizarrely it's the Official Media that at least seems to have some sort of professionalism and balance to their delivery. We'll forgive them for using Cameo though - that was fucking awful.

I think what the likes of Hanners and others who get close to the club or any high profile outlet, can learn is that you can still have a lean and a bias but you can do it with a level of professionalism. You've a responsibility when accepting or taking a role, which I'm sure they worked hard to get noticed, that you've gotta be on your a game. Show people that you didn't just take the opportunity but you're going to be the best you can at it, why you obtained it and why you should retain it.

 ;)

This is what grinds my gears as well. At the beginning of the season when they were interviewing Scott Lindsey, they kept referring to him as 'gaffer'. I probably shouldn't get wound up by that so much as it's totally irrelevant in the grand scheme of things but it came across as a bit weird.  :suicide:

There's only one gaffer  :toocool:

https://youtu.be/2YN0QA_h9Tk

Could I be as bold as to suggest that it is not compulsory to listen to this or any other podcast if you don't like the tone or content.

There are a plethora of things to get pissed off about in the world, many of which are entirely beyond our control and one can't do anything about, ones choice of which outlet to listen to to be told how shite we are is entirely in ones own hands and if its getting on your tits, walk away.

I'll be honest in that I did the same with the LS pod when it morphed from being the interesting interviews etc to people just commenting about the club in the present day, I know/knew we were useless, I didn't need to listen to someone telling me what I already knew.  :D ;)

I'd quite like the club to let the LS pod do those long-form interviews again. Might help to connect the players to the fans.

Thanks for the added condescension, but that's exactly what I did after listening to that particular episode. I was just providing my feedback which backed up what Kev B had said.

Any condescension was entirely unintended so apologies for that. It was an important life lesson I learnt a few years back to stop getting pissed off about nonsense when I could just walk away from things like that, case in point being when I took a break from here as Covid kicked off.

Apologies again!

Hey no worries bud. That's cool. FWIW I'm completely aligned with you about not being concerned about things out of my control. The pandemic, to me, was a total eye opener and changed my outlook for sure.

Sorry for the therapy style posts!! haha :)

This is beautiful

I agree with you both but I'll admit I've listened to very little STBL for the reasons stated. I think I listened in on one of their twitter spaces once and just didn't really like the whole ''geezer'', barrah boi kind of style. Got nothing against genuine cockernees but again, it falls down to professionalism. It definitely lacks it in bucket hats on STBL for me.

I don't like all of Rob LS content but I always enjoy his style of presenting. Always poking and asking a question which can be answered. Then always allowing his guest to answer as well. I also enjoy the structure of the OSC's OTS/OTC for similar reasons. Although it is often relatively sterile in content, you won't find much better than Vic Morgan for how to do things well. I'm sure he would love to get his teeth into something a bit more debatable as he always strikes me as a great mediator. Hawes has this trait too but can and does push a bit more at times. People can have their opinion on BBC National/Worldwide prerogatives but it's not surprise that these two have and do work for BBC Local. Incredible  top have two journos that are so good at their craft, whilst retaining balance and professionalism.

When hosting my own shows I always look at what I can learn from those who do presenting well. One thing I've learnt to do quite well, is knowing when to interrupt. Sounds like an odd thing to be a positive trait but you have to know when it's the right moment to move things along. Not just because a question has gone of topic or becomes difficult but in order to direct things towards your next question. Leaving it open enough in order to get a genuine answer but cutting in to take it to the next part. I've had great feedback on this from guests and journos which is always nice. One guest recently said;

'I like how you always give me something to say and the opportunity to say it but also if I'm struggling to find an answer, you'll cut in to prompt or move onto something else - like having a brief exchange with your co-host about something relatable. It put me at incredible ease that I didn't have to rush an answer and I could relax into the interview.'

I do like that there are several STFC related media outlets and I personally encourage independent journalism - those people should be proud that they are getting their content out there for people to enjoy, dislike, feel meh, love etc. At the end of the day, if people are talking about it then you're ultimately doing something correct - it's then a matter of refining it to make it better or to be even better but getting it out there is the first and important port of call.

Thanks for attending my TED Talk, sponsored by Eggo Waffles  :D

===============

NB: For balance I thought I'd give STBL a chance and listen to one of their latest offerings...I got to about ten mins in and I know it shouldn't be any surprise considering the name of the pod but they spent that first ten mins wanking themselves silly over Tom 'Broady' Broadbent's recent achievement... :crash: I'm really not sure how anyone could sit through 3hrs of that...maybe it got better but I'll refer to my comments about knowing when is right to move onto the next part. Who really, other than people obsessed with Tom Broadbent or South Shields wants to hear about that particular segment for that long? Imo it's not a particularly great way to open a show if trying to retain/engage listeners. I'm also surprised that a show that is effectively being ''Culb Pod'' has zero credits/intro slate to the show, that's pretty much standard procedure. I'm also not a fan either of the logo emblazoned with the sponsor on it either.

Fuck me, it sounds like I really hate TSBL but it's just coming back to that bit about lacking any attempt at professionalism; I'm sure they'll be right along to consult with my expertise  :D

So very beautiful :ohmmmm:

Just FYI, LSPOD is trying to bring back some player interviews for the summer break, I know he has got one in the bag and is trying for more, so keep your ears open for those.

Anyone trying to a spokesperson for a group of diverse fans of different walks of life and that have very different opinions is always going to come across as a bit of a tit. That little bald twat from England Fans group they used to roll out on Sky Sports News used to drive me insane.

I think the trouble is, several of them seem to think emulating Soccer AM or A League of Their Own style of format is amazeballs. I think that type of format only really attracts the likes of 12yr old lads and twats. I suppose an argument could be made that if there are a lot of both of those that enjoy football then carry on regardless.