Thetownend.com

Franchise 3 Swindon Town 1 att: 7,950 (1,960 Town fans)

We had already sold more than that 2 days ago.

I didn’t know that how many we had sold 2 days ago
(1,960)

Nice to read about Aud on the Dons forum😁
https://www.sitdownorwellstealyourclub.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9373

Do they have a bar within the away end? I remember there being no pubs anywhere near.

Eight Bells welcomes away fans. Food. No idea how far it is from the ground. I’m booked in to park at ASDA do hopefully everything is within walking distance.

That’s about a half hour walk - probably about 2 miles away.

Fuck that!

I have a bad feeling about this one to be honest. Would bite your hand off for a point. No Kemp, no form to speak of, Brewitt probably doubtful, tough game on Tuesday, no depth...

We don't tend to deviate from the formation, but in the absence of Kemp and Cain I'd drop the 10 altogether and play three across the middle with Khan, Kinsella and McEachran and try to be a bit more solid I think.

Bench for this is going to look fucking abysmal I fear. Assuming Brewitt isn't back (otherwise he's in for Minturn)

              Mahoney
     FBT    Minturn   UGM
Shade                      Hutton
    McEachran Kinsella Khan
             Austin RHM

Subs: Ward, Clayton, Genesini, Young, Tans, Batch, Ardiles

How the fuck has Batch got in ahead of me?

He's cheaper.

                     Mahoney
FBT    Clayton.    Brewitt.    UGM.    Hutton
       Khan.  McCreachan. Kinsella.   Shade. 
                          Austin

 :D

Sorry, unavailable due to Chinese buffet.

that's how cheap I am. And it's genuine

                           Mahoney
         Malife         Brewitt     Clayton
 Hutton   Kinsella      Khan.     Blake-Tracy
                        McEachran
                 Young       Austin

Shade
Minty
RHM
Genesini
Ward
Obodo
My lad will bring his boots. He's half decent
 

Could try Dokes or FBT in midfield - beef it up a bit

This looks familiar

https://x.com/mkdonsfc/status/1717541604674727950?s=61&t=HYPly50GSEZLTKzNdaNp7Q

Should have signed him when we had the fee agreed

No Brewitt still apparently.

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23882914.mk-dons-v-swindon-town-press-conference-happened/

Clayton not ready yet? Prefer him to Minturn.

I see old STFC Questions is chuntering on Twitter again but has made the valid point... We have 15 pro players available tomorrow.

#CompetitiveBudget

Cancel your buffet Batch!

Down to the bare bones again then. Limited resources, but still some choices:-

Swap RHM for Young who is clearly misfiring atm?
Change it up to a back 4 with either Clayton or Minturn alongside Dokes and using FBT as a more conventional Left Back
Stay with a 5 at the back with Minturn and Clayton both playing centrally, FBT at LWB and Shade moved to the number 10 role
Involve Genesini, who Flynn says can play as a 10,  but seemingly out of favour after a poor display at Reading
Play Kinsella as CDM, moving McEachran forward

Not easy choices, although have a feeling that Flynn will change it up quite a bit and go with a 442, particularly as Franchise played just 1 striker on Tuesday, meaning we shouldn't need the extra central defender, can play an extra midfielder in a diamond formation and can still get fullbacks forward, whilst playing Shade at the tip of the diamond, just behind the front 2.

Mahoney

Hutton
Dokes
Clayton
FBT

Kinsella
Khan
McEachran
Shade

Austin
RHM

Subs
Ward
Minturn
Genesini
Young
Obodo
+2?

Thoughts?

I think I would go with this, Minturns confidence looked a bit fucked after conceding the penalty on Tuesday so would try Clayton in the middle. I would put Genesini to LWB and put SHade into the run around a lot wherever he wants Kemp role behind Austin and Young, I would start Young and if its not working for him again swap him for Rushian Heartburn-Murphy at HT.

                    Mahoney
        Dokes    Clayton    FBT
Hutton                           Genesini
         McEachran      Khan
                      Shade
           Austin            Young

Subs: Ward, Minturn, RHM, Abodo, Kinsella +AN Other youth (or only 6 subs)

2-1 defeat in front of 7,214 (with 2,314 Swindon).

5-4-1 tomorrow

The points been discussed to death but it’s still ridiculous to think about our squad depth and how poor it is. The “finding the right players” excuse they rolled for half the summer to make it look like we were being selective with our recruitment rather than the “right players” just being the ones we can find who have given up trying to get a contract with the actual big hitters in this league was funny as well.

You have Genesini LWB and sub there PV...

I see and corrected :) I would start him but hes a good option off the bench :)

If Kemp and Young aren't allowed to play in the FA Cup by their parent side and Brewitt has concussion complications it could be very bare bones against Aldershot.

Khan, Hutton and FBT on 4 yellows also.

Yep and supported by over 2,000 fans tomorrow.
Plenty getting pissed off again. That Tuesday summed it up with the Gillingham substitutions against ours.
We are simply not prepared for a full on season.

If there's a youth game we'd rather Obodo plays in, we could genuinely name four subs for this fixture.

Talking of pros, is Dworzak with the club at the moment or out on loan? Know he's been ill and seemed some way off the level but beggars can't be choosers.

I mentioned about benches in the Gillingham MDT. They were able to bring on Lapslie, who is a terrific midfielder at this level and Tom Nichols, a potent poacher. We only really had RHM to change things and it wasn't really the type of game he thrives in. Franchise's bench midweek had Leko, Eisa and MJ Williams, all players that can effect games at this level. Recruitment mistakes have been made, January can't really come quick enough for Flynn and the recruitment team whilst we muddle on as best we can.


I feel sorry for Obodo. He should be leading the line for the under 18s games and is having to sacrifice his education as we don't have enough bodies in the first team. He's absolutely miles off being a first team player, not his fault at all.

Was Heartburn-Murphy deliberate JJ?

Can only wait and see, but why do you think it'll be better in January? Expect it' be the normal scramble of outs and last minute ins.

The Gaviscon Greaves

Yep :D cos he gives me indigestion!

Blind faith maybe? I guess my thinking is that we're now bumbling along with a wafer thin (said in French accent) squad that's running on fumes and struggling to maintain the early season form that had us basically topping the table. I dunno, I just can't see Flynn being particularly happy about things at the moment - although fair play to him he just seems to get on with it - and I doubt Charlie hasn't been vocal behind the scenes also, his pride is at stake as well. Can Clem just ignore that and continue to sell anything of value not tied down?

We've seen first hand what this side is capable off, add in those 4-6 players in order to bulk up the squad and we could be contenders. Maybe I'm too positive about the future, whatever happens is out of my control so there is no real benefit to me in being mardy about it really.

There's an interesting question re Aldershot. We are genuinely struggling to put a squad out and yet we have 'prioritised' advancing in the cup, where the rewards after two wins could be great. There comes a point where it is worth signing a player(s) to make that more likely. Won't happen but hey.

0001hrs on January 1st, Hutton signs for Peterborough. Place your bets now.

Don't be silly, that won't happen. The fax machine will be busy printing off Kemp's recall papers :D

This 100%.

Kanu's injury was terrible timing, as he had more chance of making an impact.

This is what happens when you have to make a bus stop to sell a player.

Yeah Kanu had been on the fringes of the squad last season and seemed to be thriving in the under 18s so to have him coming off the bench, you would feel he would make an impact, whereas Obodo just appears to be throwing on a body for a bodies sake.

oh yeah, looked up the concussion protocol, there are 6 stages of assessment, you have to go through each before moving on to next. Each stage is a day long as a minimum.

so the minimum time you can't play for is 6 days.

I'm adding zero new to this thread, but we gon' get a pumping this weekend.

What happened to Jaxon Brown? He featured a bit in the squad at the end of last season. Not that he's the answer or owt but it's a bod!

2,200 tickets sold. Maybe hit 2,500 with walk-ups.

We deserve a squad that can compete with Accrington Stanley.

The gaslighting from happy clappers that we expect too much does become quite clear when our support turns out like this.

Indeed who only get gates of 2k

All for being sustainable but the fan base and manager are being very shortchanged currently around our so called competitive budget.


They said lessons had been learned while it doesn’t seem so when 4 games lately we haven’t even been able to name a full bench

2,239 actual tickets sold

Fantastic support. As it has been ever since Clem took over.

Fans have more than done their part. Unfortunately we were told the budget would be very competitive and it isn't.

Lied to. Again.

The squad, Flynn and his management team all deserve better.

You share my thoughts exactly.
Not surprised though in all honesty.

Flynn on Kemp "we are not a one man team".
Fair enough but we're not an 18 man squad either at the moment.

This.

Have most people got tickets for the Upper Tier tomorrow?

A few more injuries and we might be a one man team!

If the 3 players on 4 yellows get carded tomorrow do they miss the Aldershit game or the next league game?

Good question.

I'd be telling them all to get booked to be honest if its Aldershot. I'd not be going all Reading in the piss pot, I'd want to play as strong as a team that we have players fully fit for it, but I wouldn't want to risk anyone.

League

Facebook lots now saying 2500
Franchise pricks debating where Kemp should sit tomorrow as they’ve got wind that he may be sitting with the Swindon fans😁

Have you misspelled lots. Did you mean idiots?

I thought it was a little early in the evening for that but now you’ve mentioned it I’ve since changed it :D

One single vote for a Town win in the prediction league.

It wasn’t me :D

It'll be knocking on for 2,500 there tomorrow. Clem does not deserve this fanbase.

It isn’t for Clem.

It's me, i posted that a couple of weeks ago. Oh well, i'm going to be positive and stick with it.

I’ve posted up until Xmas subject to change depending on performances etc😁

Pre match welcome to the land that taste forgot in Captain Ridley's Shooting Party.
Austin & Co will be taking aim later.

The well ordered grid of sweeping boulevards in downtown MK reminds me of New York or Chicago not at all.

I always get Pete's Waterman & Winkleman mixed up for some reason.
It's probable that the stadium generates enough income from hotel, conferencing & events to not be considered a complete white elephant, assuming that the money or a share of it goes to the club.

From a footballing perspective it would still be preferable to sit in a half full CG than a three quarters empty Stadium:MK.
Wonder why we nearly always travel here in such numbers, even more so this year.
A case of we're only here for the comfy seats or possibly some sly retail therapy.
We'll never know if IKEA will experience a spike in orders today.

Disappointed to learn that the National Museum of Computing is also in Bletchley Park & not in Theatre Square back home.
We will be missing our own Colossus again today.
Wouldn't change much, push GM into Kemp's position & bring Kinsella in.
He'll be a wasted signing if he doesn't play today.

We haven't played badly in recent games, one poor half at County aside.
Would expect an open game today & we'll have every chance of doing some damage.

MK are a bit of a bogey side in the league, we had 4 wins in the first 7 meetings & only 2 in the 17 since.

The support can make the difference today.
So hope that the owner will be watching from afar with a few tinnies lined up & pondering on how best to seize the day in January.
Trick or treat Clem, over to you.

Leaving in a bit. Was thinking of Captain Ridley’s. If you’re still there by noon-ish I’ll look for the person passed out on the floor!

Well done to everyone going today! I hope it is a good one. COYR

My heart and head seem to be in the same place, I’m going for a 3-0 loss. Pleased if we get a point and delirious if we get all three.

Bare bones again today, cannot see anything more that a defeat....

Well done Morfuni! Another season in this dire League is on the cards....

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23884796.mk-dons-boss-discuss-swindon-town-loanee-dan-kemp-future/

That's one more gone in January...

On this day in 2008 the away game at Walsall was postponed (postboned for Aud;) ) due to snow!

I feel its a loss, but you never know with Swindon

Not just Swindon TBH, every team can beat every other team in this league with ease, yes County are doing well and Mansfield doing very well but past that there are no stand out sides and all capable of winning or losing any game it seems.

As LL said, a draw would be good and a win amazing but we really are at bare bones with an utterly threadbare squad depth and with no obvious replacement for Kemp today and missing the ever dependable Brewitt it will be tough today.

MKD reinvigorated with a new manager too fresh from beating Bradford 4-1 on Tuesday after a 9 game win-less run and no new injury worries expect an unchanged side today.

let's hope that we don't Bombe out Turing the match then.

Up against Joe Tomlinson and Jack Payne today, we all know how that ends!

was that the snow that melted within an hour?

Actually pretty sure that was a Tuesday

I always found Tomlinson a bit of an Enigma…

Bit of traffic at Botley. Thanks to the boys in the Peugeot 5008 for letting me squeeze in 😀

It was indeed a Tuesday.

Tomlinson injured and Payne sent off?

If only! I fear both will score today TBH.

we all do venks. we all do

Ha,see that! Very good.
To be honest though I think the majority of fans weren't happy about signing him on a perm

First stint here he looked superb up until he got injured.

I agree. I wouldn't have been averse to taking a chance on his fitness

Currently on the train from Euston. No other Town fans spotted yet

I don't think anyone thought Tomlinson wasn't good enough, just concerns about his injury record. On a small budget that matters, with an MK size one it's definitely a risk worth taking as if fit he's above this level. Bit like Lyden (albeit not that injury prone!)

Agreed :clap:

Are you over just for the game or longer🤔

Here for the duration!

 :D

🙄 Groans

Ok, I’ll raise you a Colossus 🤣

.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LTm9asiK5Hc

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F9hzl93WgAAPbge?format=jpg&name=medium)

In the Eight Bells until it got infested by loads of spotty youths and accompanying cops.

Full bench but 3 of them are scholars.

Swindon youths🤔

That bench is absolutely tragic.

Foetuses

Young is the only one with any ‘experience’ and even he isn’t very experienced. The so called owner has completely stitched Flynn up here, the inevitable has happened.

Phil Smith’s expertise awaits🤣

Minturn does the presser and then benched. Poor lad.

He’s not really been dropped. More Clayton is back to fitness. I’m sure he’ll still get 15/20 mins as Flynn won’t want Clayton pushing 90.

Our entire 7 man bench has 94 EFL starts between them, seeing as you asked. Ward is almost two thirds of them:


Lewis Ward: 57
Jake Young: 31
Harrison Minturn: 4
Brooklyn Genesini: 2
Obodo, Hart, Alston: 0

(https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lewis-ward/leistungsdaten/spieler/258910/plus/1?saison=ges)
(https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jake-young/leistungsdaten/spieler/794437/saison/ges/plus/1#gesamt)
(https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/harrison-minturn/leistungsdaten/spieler/855090/saison/ges/plus/1#gesamt)
(https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brooklyn-genesini/leistungsdaten/spieler/655173/saison/ges/plus/1#gesamt)

Thats very sad but it sums up our threadbare squad perfectly.

The starting X1 can still get the game won though.

I certainly hope so. I'm treating this one as a bit of a free hit rather than expecting anything, I mention the bench thing more out of curiosity than fury!

Christ is MK lard arse Central. Never seen so many heifers

Get to the ground to find it's allocated seating after all due to numbers. Not a fan of searches or getting sniffed by a drug doggy.

Well it seems we will set up like this then.

                           Mahoney
         Malife          Clayton       Blake-Tracey
Hutton   Kinsella   McEachran     Khan      Shade
                      RHM           Austin

I have a feeling we will have the 3 midfielders sat deeper than when Kemp plays and hopefully hit them on the counter with the pace of RHM up front.

But you can’t rely on the same starting XI to get you through the season week in week out. We are effectively relying on about 13 players which is a bit of a joke whichever way it’s span.

Pretty Vacant by the Pistols on the playlist.  :)

hang your head in shame clem with that bench.

Yeah, absolutely.
Needs to be rectified in January.
Not convinced that the budget will allow for anything other than cosmetic changes, which is a worry.

In the meantime just taking it a game at a time until end of the year.

Filling up nicely. That's half

That bench is a fucking shambles and Flynn is obviously toeing the party line by stating he isnt worried abut squad depth.

Good fucking grief.

Sound on mute then.

Ha, positive vibes on here today.

Hope the first XI get the job done.

Yep, spot on.

He’s alright until he talks😁

My God that stadium is fucking empty. Fucking embarresing club and supporters.

Impeccable minutes silence  :clap:

I like that in a 90% empty stadium they've still chucked some poor fuckers up into the corner of the top tier.

Yep thats the Town fans, keep them away from the pitch.

Better view up there😁

Not got a good feeling about this. COYR

Yeah, I thought that was a bit odd. Clearly don’t need the second tier at all this season.

Ooh, back 4 by the look of it.
Shade in Kemp role.

Formation change with Shade up top and four at the back?

Havent figured out our formation just yet but its definately different.

What on earth was FBT doing there??

Phil Smith saying he’s confused with the formation!

Very poor pass from Khan to FBT there straight into touch.

For some reason, that doesn’t surprise me

I think it’s a 433

He’s already as boring as fuck🤣

From what I have seen I would think its like this.

                           Mahoney
Hutton         Malife          Clayton       Blake-Tracey
                Kinsella   McEachran     Khan      
                              Shade
                      RHM           Austin

With Shade playing a free role behind both strikers, pushing into a striker position at times.

Godwin-My Leaf and Hebdon-Murphy are playing for us apparently

Another Ronan Darcy goal for Crawley. Fair play to him, thought he was so far out of his depth here

I am one of the few that didnt mind Darcy as an option off the bench, at times though he looked utterly dreadful and weak, but on the ball he had a good eye for a shot.

RHM is seeing a lot of the ball but his final ball is not great yet, the defence cant cope with his pace.

A couple of nearly moments for RHM early on.

Touch lacking on both occasions though.

RHM is 80% of a brilliant footballer and 20% of a fan in kit. Pure League Two.

Khan has looked hugely comfortable in the CDM role so far. Nice big pitch is suiting him I think. He’s done his half turn thing about 5x already.

I wonder if they will man-mark him soon. At the moment that outlet is on every time.

Do Plastics have any songs🤣

We are pressing them fairly high up so far.

MK look less than the sum of their parts so far.

At the moment this game is like the Man City v Arsenal game the other week, if everyone was given a strong sedative before hand. The tempo is training ground.

Godwin Malife regularly puts us in trouble when he tries to run out of defence

TBH I think he looks better as a midfilder than he does as a defender. He is probably the most attacking CB/defender I have ever seen at Swindon.

This is quite a poor game so far.

Its slow and very little quality from both teams yet.

Phil smith tutting😁

Bad foul on McEachran there.

First 25 mins of this has been a Sandro di Michele wet dream.

Nasty over-the-ball challenge there

Not sure I have ever seen Payne playing such a deep role is he has for the Dongs today.

I fell asleep at the middle of page 10. I see nothing happened.

Good save by Mahoney there.

Keenly won throw-in a couple of minutes back.

My concern is these slow paced games never suit us. As we saw earlier in the season, the high intensity stuff was our strength, with teams falling into our trap of allowing it to become like a basketball game.

Slow pace on Tuesday didn't help

Interesting to see Shade playing in a more central role.

Austin’s name is very rarely mentioned these days.

Good low save by Mahoney.

Clayton having a tough half thus far

That big CB keeps fouling RHM.

Town fans sounding superb.

McEachran 20 yard shot a yard over the bar, our best chance.

Khan booked facing 1 game suspension

Yellow for Khan, thats a ban,  a soft yellow, he misses the Aldershot game I think.

Here we fucking go. That’s never a yellow.

It was also Khans first foul all game so it wasnt for accumlated fouls.

0-1

Soft goal.

Oh dear

Sigh. Masters of our own demise… again

Maybe deliberate to get it out the way - at least it only the cup game he misses - although there is probably nobody to ply in his place

Mahoney got his hand to it but Clayton looked a bit off his man allowing him to go past him and shoot.

Clayton was way off his man

Think I might go back to sleep.

Saw it coming TBF

Clayton shows MK attacker the way past Mahoney

Surely it'll be the Colchester league game?

Think he misses next league game so Colchester

Looks like Clayton and FBT have swapped LCB and LB.

Balls - that's not so good then

Yes you are correct, as of this season.

Think your quote may be more than a few seasons back given Watford were in the fa cup final back in 2019?

All the intensity of a pre season friendly and almost as much quality

McEachran and Khan have just slowed down any attack we’ve had today. Backwards each time

Possibly but the statement still counts that yellow are in the same competition but red count accross all comps.

Season going backwards.

I've never fallen asleep during a Town game ... but there's always a first time... 😴😴😴

Pathetic excuse of a performance...we've reverted to Lyndseyball...

Its like both sides are conserving their energy for later in the game.

HT 0-1

Pretty grim half for us that.

Even if you ignore the score, we have done very little to trouble them. Attacking wise as poor a half as I can think of this season.

Well that was undeniably a half of football. I remember almost nothing about it and it finished 20 seconds ago.

MK not as good as feared. Swindon not as good as hoped.

I thought we were losing.

Dull!

Poor half, made worse by the lack of options on the bench. We’ve broke through the initial press on several occasions but the lack of urgency following has allowed MK to regroup, and forced us backwards. So frustrating to watch. Austin and RHM pretty anonymous up top, but to be fair, they are getting zero service

Wake me up for the equalizer.

What do they do in fucking training?

It's obviously nothing to do with defending, every goal conceded is a carbon copy of all the others....

Awful!

We're a tad unlucky that it isn't still 0-0 - which would have been ok.  But I'd rather watch paint dry.  And it's very much incumbent on us to cahnge the game.  Can't endure anor 45 mins hoping we might nick one - because we won't.

What’s the point of praising our away support and then playing shit like this, have a fucking go for gods sake, at least go down fighting if we are going to lose!

I always put Swindon scores first home or away and always have done and always will.

To me it looks like the lack of expectation at the start of the season freed them up, and they could play in a batshit crazy way, which would result in high scoring games, which did suit us. Now, it seems like they are so much more conservative now they realise there’s a chance they could compete. Obviously teams have changed their style against us etc but we look shit scared to go forward in attacking positions, at the risk of losing the ball

This is us after January so get used to it people. :suicide:

“Clem’s the real deal. He’s here for the long haul.”

Honestly considering not getting a season ticket next year if he’s still here. Total and utter fraud.

The club has been hollowed out, whilst our Supporters’ Trust aided, abetted and cheered on.

A bit odd, but fair enough.

Weird how form goes. A few weeks back I would be assuming that we would be much better second half and more than capable of scoring a couple of goals.

Now, based on what we have seen so far today, I would be shocked if we get anything from this, and MK are not good.

We look tired, bereft of ideas and lacking any real belief.

Can only get better this half right?

It’s not “form” per se. Our tiny first team squad has been run into the ground.

Seemed a lack of urgency on Tuesday. The one thing that was getting us goals and results seems to have vanished. We'll be out the cup next weekend at this rate.

The one thing I'd cling to is that pace Vs their defence looks like it would work.

We've gone from the most potent team in the lague to the least in a few weeks.

I have only done it in every MDT for the last 7 years and won't cange now.

Notts County's owners have confirmed they will not be selling the club to pop star Taylor Swift.  Maybe she could make Clem an offer.

Obviously we’ve not lost yet, but my main concern with Flynn when he arrived was his inability to break a winless/poor run of form at Walsall. As it stands, we’re heading for a fourth defeat in six, with just one win in there…

Realistically Mahoney could be recalled in January. Imagine if we lose him, Young and Kemp  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

To be fair he's not blessed with options to change things is he?!

 A couple of chances early on but RHM in full "bull in a china shop"mode. A couple of poorish crosses from Hutton but apart from that,nothing. MKD are not good but they look more adventurous than us. Must get Young on,at least he's been getting in good positions lately.

It was a random hoax from Twitter that she was interested, not true at all.

Nope, he isn’t. And that’s a huge, huge issue

Only another 45 mins and we can fuck off home.

I don’t think many will renew tbh won’t be taken in by the competitive budget bullshit again

Fair enough. I guess other people post the correct score anyway if Swindon are playing away and are not drawing.

Each to their own, but I have always done it that way and always will. My choice. :)

Great low save by Mahoney.

It's the same squad we started well with though

Brilliant stop

Tomlinson’s decent isn’t he.

Too much doom and gloom on here ride the storm and see where it takes us.

Some signs of a football match breaking out since half time.

A bit of an enigma according to one😁

RHM absolute shit head down and headless chicken in a good position.

Oh give it off for fuck sake RHM

RHM you greedy ...

And that is wht RHM gives me indigestion!

He had the perfect chance to play Charlie (eho was in acres of space) in and took another touch. Really poor.

What in the name of the fuck was Hepburn Murphy thinking?

FFS! Austin had half of the pitch to himself and Shade was breaking the other way so RHM just ran into a defender rather than pass!

Superbly RHM moment by RHM there.

Total disconnect of brain from body.

Agricultural foul on FBT as he broke in their half.

Pass the ball forwards from set pieces ffs. No issue at all playing it back if under pressure in possession but by definition we cannot be under pressure from a fucking free kick.

This ref is not really going to give us much today, Khan should shut the fuck up.

Scott Lindsey esque

Young on for Clayton.

I really really dont rate RHM, at all.

1st half Clayton looked poor and slow but this have he has looked a fair bit better at LB, fitness is an issue still though.

Brilliant option off the bench (see Newport) but has been hopeless when starting

Shade seems to have moved back to LB now.

Hes good to come on with 10-15 mins to go when everyone is knackered to run around like an idiot. But a L2 starter he ain’t!

Exactly this.

Should be safe in the January window then😁

Well that’s our 1 sub made….

Frustrating as hell.

The sort that constantly causes you to ask “why aren’t you better then you are?”

Also, why do so many commentators see the name Shade and go with shar-day?

1-1

1-1 Young.

Well, that's come from fucking nowhere but happy days. Great strike Young, welcome back.

What a fucking strike. Come on Town

Good finish from 20 yards dipping into the bottom corner.

Excellent sub from Flynn😁

Young is back!! 1-1

Bloody hell! Young!!

what a goal!

Great finish. Hope we see some early season Young for the next few games now. Well done Jake

Nice move by Town but Hutton couldnt get a cross in at the end.

For me McEachran hasnt had a good game so far.

I think you wouldn't get far listing Town players who have, but things seem to be changing.

Why when our defenders come forward with the ball do they always carry on running forward after they’ve given it? We’ve got so little defensive discipline.

They're clearly meant to do that, that's our tactical plan and has been all season, with a midfielder dropping. Can argue whether it's working currently but it's not ill discipline.

2-1

So how’s that working out for us?

1-2 to them.

Not sure the CB could do that again in a thousand goes but a good goal.

ffs. wank

Ridiculous!

Nice movement by MKD tbf.

Getting back into a game we’ve been shite in, and then conceding about 10 minutes later? That is trademark Swindon ffs.

Mahoney had no chance with that shot, good move by them.

Is it unkind to say that Shade was way off his man there?

Not my point or yours that, is it? All I said was it was the plan, not that it was working well. It certainly did work for the first ten games or so, feels like it's stopped working so well recently but it's hardly the only part of our game to which that applies!

Awful defending yet again

They’re playing some brilliant stuff tbf

It sort of was my point that when our defenders come charging forward, we end up with huge holes when they counter.

Payne shoots onto Kinsella and it comes back and hits his shoulder for a goal kick, he chose unwisely there.

McEachran has looked fucked in the last few games

RHM header too soft and at the keeper.

And Kinsella has been almost completely anonymous.

Hes been weak today for me, but then so has Khan.

Who? :D only noticed he was playing when he tackled Payne 2 mins ago.

Forgot he was playing until you mentioned him.
What a pointless signing he’s been.

I can understand him being viewed as a solid player, but fucking hell, how shit were Walsall for him to win two POTS awards?

Yes but if he hadnt signed then we would have had 4 scholars on the bench today :)

I know. I’d be surprised if his name has been mentioned more than five times all game.

This isn't going to be our worst result of the season but it's hard to think of a worse performance. Every player bar Mahoney and Young (small sample size) looks well below their best.

Another great save by Mahoney. Easily my MotM today.

Payne is ripping us a selection of new rectal passages.

Has any other squad had a fewer players who have completed a full league match this season than us?

You can’t do Saturday - Tuesday - Saturday with a 12 man pool of starters.

The defending is laughable at times. They’re flagging after an hour which is understandable tbf but we have no fucking options

Payne superb.  Mahoney even more so!

Well that settles man of the match for Mahoney then. Bailing us out again.

Only 1 away win in 8, that's shite tbh, and that was a 94th minute goal at Gump.

RHM backs/shoulders the cross wide from a great position from a Hutton cross. He needs to head it not turn his back to it and shut his eyes.

RHM takes it off Austin’s head again!

Charlie had that one.

Att: 7,821 (Swindon not announced yet).

Austin is getting massively pissed off

Whilst Flynn is being very diplomatic in the press, I'd put 50p on Austin saying something less political fairly soon.

1-3

Well, that sums up the game.

What the fuck was FBT doing? Goodness me

Good, someone needs to.

Utter shite

game over man, game over

All too easy to predict.

Give the kids 5 minutes, at least someone will benefit from this.

Casual from FBT and Shade gets absolutely sold again.

McEachran OG thanks to FBT.  MOM getting easier and easier.

Was gonna go to this, thank fuck I didn't bother  :)

Where are the Brewitt haterz now then, eh? Your boy FBT has had a mare.

Honestly just so depressed that we are midtable L2 dross.

I've seen some shit in my time but this takes some beating...

Mid table dross is the best we can hope for. I for one won’t be renewing next year if Morfuni is still around

Sorry Clem, less money from me from now on. Sad times.

Losing to MK, a bench full of kids and worst of all, Phil Smith on comms. What a grim afternoon

Won’t even be that high soon! Weak and piss poor.

I’d say this was pretty standard for most of the last 10 years.

Fuck off Clem.

TBH 90% of us pre season thought we would be mid table this season, nothing has changed other than they gave us some hope early doors which has fizzled out now.

We are where we deserve to be with this threadbare squad.

Be threadbare crowds soon. 27 notes to watch this shit. No thanks.

Minturn so nearly gifted them another great chance.

I fear an FA cup run is beyond us too, I will back Aldershot next week against us.

Same here and expect a poor crowd even with a decent away following.

Just backed out of going to this game. Aldershot well up for it. If we lose it’ll turn toxic. Not that Clem cares, sat on a sun bed with his trotters up in Oz.

3-2

2-3

Proper header that, well done Mino (FBT? Hawes said Minturn but not sure). Will probably win him second place in the MoM vote.

The most depressing fact is that our current meandre to mid table is not even something we can moan about with hindsight.  The weaknesses were known - we can;t defend for shit, we don't have someone who gets control of the game in the middle and we have no options upfront.  It's been the same since June.  Our current form is not something we can blame on commitment, effort, bad management etc.  It's just what the vast majority of people were able to see before we started the season.  It appears to be entirely budget related - I cannot for the life of me buy a Manager deciding to leave some budget on the table if he had it, regardless of wht Flynn may say.

Ok no problem I will delete mine too.

3-2 FT

FT 2-3

Scoreline papering over the cracks.

QPR have three experienced goalies.

Result probably better than expected. Performance fucking dreadful.

This

On a brighter note, Pox are losing to two Wycombe pens. Reading losing to Pompey after being 2 up, port vale losing at home to Cheltenham  :D

Did they announce the attendance🤔

Tomlinson punching the air at the Swindon fans on the final whistle, was he being picked on by our fans?

Phil Smith having a fucking baffling swing for Jack Payne there, saying he only showed up in 15 minute bursts for Town. He's such a bellend.

I can see Flynn fucking off soon at this rate, wouldn’t blame him either!

Is anyone going to believe me now ...

I said at the beginning of the season Morfuni was skint and unable to fund a competitive team..  

But of course the Clem Is God Crew fanclub said I was talking shit.

Coming back to haunt us now...

Surprised he can get his words out.

Gas are looking and nearer to Wales!

Its ok we own the ground don’t you know?

At what cost🤔

Thanks to Clem’s generosity, don’t forget!

I feel sorry for this lot (pic courtesy of Posh red).

(https://i.postimg.cc/mgB2jMBr/395428322-7027532237269872-1862704659417866484-n.jpg)

Do kindly fuck off.

It really isn't...

Really!!

Still got those rose tints on then

It makes it sound like it was a close game.

Fair on the basis of today.

Nothing for 70 mins and then a magical spell when MK on top and STFC all over the place.

You were clearly talking shit in summer - we absolutely did not manage to get two more loans in...

The empty loan spot is probably the weirdest thing about this squad.

Doesn’t have to be to play for them does it?!

Not singling you out but most of us can't give a f over which poster was right and who was wrong 2-3 months ago.

We're here for the match.

And for the torment.

quote author=theakston2k link=topic=59762.msg1768904#msg1768904 date=1698509240
Doesn’t have to be to play for them does it?!


Yes, they could get a few bob for him.

I see the Adver described this as a five goal thriller. Not sure there's ever been a less thrilling five goal game!

Ah well, onto next week. At least there isn't a Tuesday game, and conference opposition should - should! be a bit easier.

I was always concerned about Christmas period/Jan, but thought we’d be fine up until then. 4 defeats in 6 is worrying when we’re only in October. If/when Kemp and Young go back, we are really going to struggle to replace them if we’re not in a top 7 position

Att 7,821 for anyone interested no away figure.

Did I or did I not say that Morfuni is skint and could not fund a competitive squad?

Will Murph, Young and Kemp be available for the FA cup?  Could be a long afternoon next Saturday.

For the abuse both on the forum and via private message yes it does matter to me...

I posted that back 3 pages agao :)

I thought Andrew Hawes mentioned 2,200 and something.

I think it’s up to the parent club to give permission. Can’t see why QPR wouldn’t allow Mahoney to play, unsure on the other two though

Sorry JJ I missed that I couldn’t keep up with the amount of angry post🤣

On the plus side it’ll give us an idea of what to expect when all 3 are gone in January.

Pre-match Hawes mentioned 2,200 but switched off near the end so don’t know if he said it again.

Morfuni is skint and cannot find a promotion squad. Once the redevelopment gets planning permission he will sell up that’s what he is waiting for.

In the meantime best we can hope for is mid table sadly. Attendances are irrelevant as any money is going in to paying back Clem

To be honest, with our record against non league sides in the cup, we could probably put out a prime 1970s Brazil team, and still find a way to lose

Oh and if I was Flynn I would- sold a load of bullshit as we were

This.....

That's if he's not trying to sell already

I don't know how much more obviously I could be taking the piss there.

Hawes mentioned at least 2,239 (pre matchday sales). He stated no official figure had been given yet.

Flynn late coming out post-match, maybe a few bollockings being given out.

Not at all, I know we're in a shit situation but what's the point in shouting how you were right and everyone else was wrong? Makes you sound like a child. We're all pissed off with the situation at the moment, does nobody any benefit to give the "I told you so" bit does it?

After Gillingham, Flynn said he was going to freshen things up in January, so he either gets backing or he's going to be given an offer he can't refuse.  BTW, how did Gillingham lose to Newport today?

Likely to be a forced freshening up though?

To be honest we need to win on Saturday or the lack of a cup run is another ready made excuse for Morfuni.

So why dont we hope for a cup run for the sake of the fans and the club in general?

OK. Clem's skint. We have too few players. We have a lack of quality. We might lose the only quality we have in January.

I get it!

Let's move on please!

Why do you keep repeating yourself?

Well said :clap:

Feel for those who went today. Amazing support being utterly let down by a club determined to do everything as cheaply as possible. Serious questions needed.

Agreed. Some people seem to take some sort of delight in this sort of thing. The same people who were absent when we were flying a few weeks ago? Maybe

Christ, I've just seen their third...

The Shade LWB experiment needs to end now. Pathetic.

As one who was there, just like to say MKD seemed totally unprepared for our attendance,reminded me of Orient last season. People stood in gangways all over the place

Flynn:
- We were flat. We were too slow. The tempo wasn't there
- We gave it a go in the second half
- But we conceded poor goals. It hurt us and we lost the game because of it
- We were nowhere near today
- We set triggers to press that didnt work
- We showed them too much respect
- Changed it today to surprise them. Did it work? Not really!
- Thought we were better in the second half, but again, it was the same players out there
- Switched Clayton. Thought it was going to be more physically demanding on the left.
- FBT could deal with the big lad easier. Clayton built himself into the game from LB
- Looked better giving pace on left by making early substitution.
- Shot ourselves in the foot with 2 poor goals
- Pleasing for Young to score. But, doesn't care, we need to play as a team
- Dont have luxury of bringing players on from the bench.
- Have 6 injured.
- Had kids on the bench. Gave them the opportunity.
- Miles isn't ready to start, but its good experience for him
- We've got what we've got and we've got to stick together
- Kinsella was fine. We were chasing at the end, so put pace and pwer in the middle by putting Dokes into midfield
- Fans say you dont have the backing with a bigger squad: Injuries and inavailability are the problem. Add them to the squad and things look better
- Its difficult when you do get a batch of these players out
- Khan will miss the next league game
- Got to buckle down and hold on until January
- Have to add some quality and quantity in January
- Wont bring someone in for the sake of it
- Were close with one just after the window closed, but he decided to go elsewhere
- Hope to improve the quality and quantity of the squad in January

The first sentence worries me!

Dont deserve support like this!

As does the last!

That as well :badmood:

Moved to MOtm

Flynn has shot himself in the foot really because he said before the first window ended that he wanted a squad of 25 and we ain’t got anywhere near it!

Might have a squad the combined age of 25 though

Don't know, but his over celebrations pumping the badge on the second goal did annoy me tbh :) Him supporting Town is bollocks.
Payne just high fived the scorer and got on with it.

Yeah, it never rang true that he was a Town fan. A naked attempt at people pleasing.

I’ve always respected Charlie for saying whilst he’d been to the odd game he wasn’t a fan per se.

I think you are a fool to believe any player is a fan of any team.  They get immersed in playing at a very young age, and after thay it's all about the contract.

Still a shame though. I’m a big fan of Tomlinson as a player regardless of the town fan bit, however, it’s a shame to hear that when he was peddling the town fan mantra constantly whilst here (unless something has gone on behind the scenes)

2,595 away fans

Excellent support and don’t see us taking that many away for a long time unless we get a great FA Cup draw.

Oh fuck off mr know it all.  We can all continually make statements like you do.

He is right though sadly. Nothing will change in Jan either

Temper Temper!!

Did Cowley tell you that ?.

 :smugfu:

Just got home and had time to think.

A lacklustre display that was papered over by a late goal. We didn’t deserve anything out of that game, bar a spell at the start of the second half we were second best all day.

Very few players come out with much credit, but the front two (that started) were particularly poor today.

Not enough swash & too much buckle at the moment.
It's a pity after a good start to the season.

For what it's worth - I didn't think MK were that good.

In fact - I haven't been impressed with anybody yet this season. Certainly another team there today who were there for the taking. They didn't seem that comfortable playing out from the back, and in the first 10 mins I thought they looked vulnerable down the sides and balls over the top.

Credit to MK though - when they did manage to get the ball into the final third they moved it quickly and created opportunities. All too easy sometimes though.

RHM and Shade don't have a football brain between them. In an ideal world they'd be nothing more than impact players. But here we are, threadbare and left with little choice but to start them.

A Swindon of old performance, slow and ponderous with possession in abundance in our own half.
Cracking support in numbers, atmosphere a little flat but that is justified with where the club is right now.
Great to see Ellis Iandolo’s Dad and Brothers at the game, still Swindon fans.

Ffs the riot Police after the game, really? Unnecessary.

Hate Franchise with a passion, the positive takeaway today was home by 6pm a novelty for me.

Sadly not optimistic.
Need the Court case to be resolved before any changes of serious note.
It’s Swindon after all relentless misery.

Thanks for that Posh I can see myself and the DNA, along with 2,500 disciples. We blithely follow our club through thick and thin but today was like a bowl of watered down gruel. Just not good enough, what a let down with such a strong following. Baffled as to how we go nine unbeaten to losing four in six. I can’t see myself going again until Boxing Day, especially as my wing man goes back to Uni tomorrow. I really do hope for a stunning cup run and a gloriously lucrative yet graceful exit with a swag bag big enough to get the legs in to make a fist of this season assuming we are still in contention at the halfway point, 23 games 40 points minimum.

Just got back. Underwhelmed is putting it mildly. Simple through balls played behind and/or through our ‘defenders’ was all that was needed. Now I’m not having a go at Flynn but when the same things happen game after game and the ‘style’ remains the same come what May questions need to be asked.

Same as with the never ending crosses from Hutton to nobody who can win a header in the box - a La Gillingham.

Mahoney was magnificent. The limit of our ambition is grabbing 7th.

7th? From which end of the table?

First half was as bad as it gets for me in terms of a complete lack of attacking threat and absolutely no urgency in possession. The midfield three too similar and no one able to progress forward with the ball (as expected, Kemp a huge miss).

Clayton was targeted and I’ll need to watch the goal back but I’m sure it was a ball behind him. A tough first start of the season for him but he should be cut some slack as clearly getting up to speed again. I was surprised to see him re-emerge for the second half.

We started the second half with some urgency followed by a great finish by Young. Sadly, this is where the positives end as we then returned to struggling to create and MK looked like scoring with every attack. We were so easily undone by through balls and considering we had defensive minded midfielders, it was alarming how easy we were cut open. 3-2 flatters us.

Kinsella looks a dud to me..I’m struggling to see what his attributes are? Games pass him by both in and out of possession - he has no physical presence either.. A shame as I was encouraged by his signing.

The lack of options on the bench is well documented and will continue to be moving forward, so I’ll leave that to be debated elsewhere!

In a nutshell.

Once again the stats look good on paper but that is all they are worth.

On another point, quite why Shade was moved back into the left hand side of the defence is beyond me as he has no left foot whatsoever, switching with Hutton might have worked far better.

2600 away fans, in the basement of football, is some turnout. This club gets backed home and away in extremely strong numbers. That’s grounds wasted on such a poor fanbase. Also Can’t remember being that high up for a while

What do you get for it? Lies Lies Lies. Squad depth is embarrassing. Nothing else. All on that cowboy morfuni. Obodo should be developing in the 18s, not our striker on bench.

Feel for Flynn, was clear we had a real solid core to build on early in season. Have done anything but. Hope that darcy, Iandolo and Wakeling money is sitting nice for precious clem.

You’d then lose Hutton’s crossing threat on the right.

It would be a fair question as to why Flynn doesn’t fancy Genesini there though - most thought he looked competent versus FGR.

Our 1 away win

Run out of steam and seasons tanking before the clocks have changed. It's almost as if trying to work 13 players to the bone week in week out doesn't work, who could of predicted that...

Feel sorry for Flynn, sold a kipper. Most of all feel sorry for our fans, more away fans than a lot of clubs get at home in this cesspit of a division. Sadly we will never get out of in under Morfuni. Sooner he takes his payday and moves on the better, let's see who the next chancer that rocks up in Town is... this court case cant come soon enough. Stagnation until then, feels like were heading back towards those Flitcroft/Brown seasons of nothingness.  :badmood:

It’s bloody hard, 120 mile round home trips and the away trips get tougher particularly driving and getting older.
My Eldest at Uni thus not sure if that’s a blessing (for him) or a downer for me as I miss going with him.
Driving to Harrogate, rallying a few troops but it’s getting tougher.

The thing I noticed today was that Austin was getting more and more frustrated with his teammates - RHM mostly who kept getting in his way, deflecting the ball away from him or losing the ball rather than passing. And then those crossing the ball, who didn't seem to be able to get it anywhere near him.

At the risk of being labelled as something or other, I think Brewitt and Kemp would have made a huge difference today. Do we know when Cain is back because he is far better than Kinsella?We know what this squad ,albeit small, is capable of when everyone is available,no reason we can't go another good run, we're not completely out of touch yet. Also Young scoring today could be the prelude to another run of goals for him. Not writing us off yet

Charlie needs to look at his own performance first to be fair...

And when it did he missed the header. Chucking crosses into the box is a waste of time without a target man.

It's up to forwards sometimes to attack the ball when the cross comes in . Many times there's little or no effort to get on the end of em.

.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbC_xeoKNFI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JXyY23m7sE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj8dBBEOjYI

Yeah, we should have tried that against Gillingham, might have hit something out of the game..

I kind of skim watching it as had friends round.

I didn't think it looked that bad from what I saw. Obviously a false impression reading on here and Flynn's summary post match (thanks nmh).

At the moment we are a mid table team who on our day can beat any of the top teams but at the same time lose to teams lower in the table.

I think Flynn has been sensible with signings (ie not signing free transfers to just boost numbers). He seems to be concentrating on quality and not quantity. Overall his signings have been good and I feel he can be trusted to bring the right types of players in future transfer windows.

Not really sure why people are having ago at Clem as well. He saved the club when he took over and has managed to reduce the overall club debt. Unfortunately most fans don’t really understand how business operate and just think any chairman should just pump millions in to sign players. Unfortunately this will not happen unless the chairman is a die hard fan.

The fans who complain about Clem are the same ones who also complain about Bristol City, Bournemouth, Reading, Salford, Wrexham owners who have pumped millions into their respective clubs.

I’m hoping we will be in and around the playoffs come January and then Flynn can bring some additions in to help push for a playoff spot (or even a late push for an autos spot).  Otherwise hopefully Flynn can build a team capable of a push for next season.

Would be nice to take the cup competitions seriously as well just to help boost the club finances.

My thoughts too - nice to read a sensible post.

This is the rinse and repeat line of the past few years.

It's not though is it, have we had the same manager in back to back seasons? Hope this might happen this year into next.

Stefftroll's post was perhaps necessary to balance the weight of adverse criticism heaped on Clem.

It was not however in any way balanced in itself.  Perhaps if Clem had epitomised the transparency he heralded and fronted up when the financial difficulties emerged he would have been more widely admired.

I have always said it's how owners leave clubs that is the time to judge.  Not how they "saved" us when joining. We shall have to see.  

I was one who was always so keen on low churn and having the same manager for stability, but what good is that now when we can't sustain a large enough budget to compete in this league nor afford to retain our better out of contract players this summer. It's a doom cycle sadly until someone can sustain us to compete with likes of Stockport, Salford etc.

It would certainly be reassuring to see more than just Minturn renewing. The only players known to be under contract next season are Minturn, UGM, Cain, Aguiar and Dworzak, possibly Kinsella (contract length not announced) It's not exactly a strong core just yet.

If Clem left today I would judge his ownership to be a success. He took us over when we were in a complete mess. We over achieved in our first season under his ownership. Nobody realistically thought we would get into the playoffs. We played good football at times.

Last season Lyndsey did ok but fans didn’t warm to him. Clem took a gamble on Morris (I think most fans were happy Lyndsey left and were excited we appointed a potential up and coming manager). Unfortunately that didn’t work and now we are with Flynn.

Ultimately Swindon have to live within their means. The majority of football clubs are loss making. Would much prefer to support a stable run club then end up like Bury, Scunthorpe, Oldham, Southend who either don’t exist or are non league sides.  Swindon are a league 1/2 club at best. Our dream is to aspire to be like Luton or Brentford but that is very difficult to do.

I’m up in Bradford for two weeks induction and training from the 6th. If it was one week later I’d stay the Friday night under my own steam and go to Harrogate on the Saturday. Sham, though you never know how things pan out.

If this squad is living within our means then we are done for. Flynn is getting the best out of a tiny squad, a lot of other managers would have us stuck in a relegation fight right now.

If this is the future of the club then we won’t be far off those clubs you mentioned soon.

Are we a stable and well run though?

It is. Garner season “hopefully we can push on and challenge next season”, Lindsey season “hope we can push to challenge next season” (this one was being peddled out as early as October) and now this season we’re already seeing “hope we can push onto challenge next season”.

I appreciate the churn of manager factor but that doesn’t change that we’ve been saying that line to ourselves in straw clutching hope for a good few years now.

Other than a fluke season, it won’t change until we’re setup properly behind the scenes to sustain a promotion challenge.

Yes but people act like Clem was the only option and that he saved us.

Able had an offer on the table but everybody was worried it would be too dodgy given they were recommended by Power. Quite ironic really when you consider all the skeletons are still around anyway just with a new face to front it. I do find myself asking how it would’ve planned out if Power got his way.

I don’t want to be a sustainable club if it means having a Crewe/Harrogate/Sutton type budget. There’s got to be some middle ground. Nobody is expecting us to compete with the likes of Wrexham in the market but I don’t think a top 7 budget is too much to ask.

Clem must’ve been expecting to budget for 6k crowds when he came in so he can consider himself extremely fortunate at the ‘extra’ income he’s received. Yet still we struggle. At what point does this get better? I can only see it getting worse.

Lots of out of contract players next season. A complete rebuild with a bottom half budget. I don’t wish to scare anybody but relegation to the 5th tier if everything goes south isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

I've seen worse.
Our play when in possession wasn't that bad, just a bit slow & lacking incisiveness.
Badly missed Kemp yesterday.
Hopefully not a glimpse into what the 2nd half of the season will be like.

Thats the problem though, managers have left, so it's never actually been tested, which was my whole point.

What a ridiculous post

I think the reason Power was so keen on Able offer was because he knew that the game was 'up' soon, had a large £7mn offer on the table and knew that legally he'd be entitled to the lot of it. Pre-emption rights really kicked that Able possibility to the bin.

Good job we have built a squad last summer with players on longer contracts to help Flynn achieve it next year…

Let's see what happens...

I think we need to revisit the ‘facts’ of the non offer from the mythical Able. Power’s sole intention was to put the club into admin so he could get rid of his debt to Standing. Sheridactyl was appointed to ensure relegation to make the club unattractive to any other prospective purchaser bar Able.

God knows where we would be now if we’d gone into Admin. Clem saving us from that fate doesn’t absolve him from what is going on now.

Care to explain what you disagree with?

Fuck off, of course we have a squad of 25 players, admittedly 9 of them are 16 year olds :)

What are you exactly expecting from Clem?  When Clem took over the club was £7 million in debt and days away from going into administration.  The club is now in a much healthier financial place.  

Unless your Newcastle, PSG, Man City with monopoly money, you have to budget and live within your means.  

The only thing you can blame Clem for is his managerial appointments.  Garner was a success but he decided to move onto a bigger club.  Lyndsey did ok but the fans didn't rate him.  Morris was a punt that went wrong.

Flynn has done well so far.  He just needs 2/3 more transfer windows to build a squad.  It's a shame there is a transfer window as i'm sure if there wasn't one then we would have signed/loaned some players by now.

What I’m expecting is to not be bullshitted about a “competitive budget” which clearly isn’t there, considering outside of Lewis Ward and Jake Young, our bench had a combined 12 EFL appearances behind them.

What he promised. Honesty and transparency. Simple.

In some ways what happens on the pitch is down to the Gods. Plenty of big budgets achieve little.

Who is to say the budget isn't competitive ?  If you read back through numerous Flynn interviews, he has consistantly said that he wants to sign the right type of player for the right money.  Maybe he is a man of his word and isn't wasting money for the sheer hell of it.  Hopefully this will benefit us in future transfer windows (assuming this unspent money is unavailable).

Oh come on. Seriously? there's no way you are this gullible.

If you think the budget is competitive, fair enough, each to their own. I just can’t see how it is anywhere near competitive when we’re subbing on a 16 year old striker to try and change games for us

So Flynn’s game plan is to spend the first half of the season undermanned. You think that’s his choice?

No, I am just realistic.

I think a lot of people on this forum don't really appreciate/understand what it is like to run a multi million pound business, maintaining cashflow, paying creditors etc.  They purely look at the football side of things and think the chairman should just pump money into the club when things aren't going well.  I think people need to be more realistic.  

We were promised a competitive budget.

The budget isn't competitive.

The end.

If he had come out and was open and transparent about our financial position perhaps he'd get more credit. But he lied to shift season tickets.

Really, you truly think that? wow you are fucking gullible.

And of course you do :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

This exactly. He should have just come out and been honest and whilst it may not have been what people wanted to hear they would have given him credit for being up front.

Also “competitive” is open to interpretation. Competitive with promotion, or consolidation?

I don't run a multi million pound business unfortunately.  However I am a Chartered Accountant who works with many such business, helping prepare management accounts, cash flow forecasts, budgets, year end accounts and taxes etc.  Therefore in comparison to most, I understand the importance of finances etc and that the solution isn't just to expect your Chairman to pump millions into the club just to help please fans.  

Unfortunately due to the transfer window, there is nothing Swindon can do until January time.  I'm sure there is excess funds which can be used on transfers and hopefully Flynn will spend that money wisely.

we are told we aren't living with our means

Skim watching the game v watching the highlights.

During the game I thought mcecheran had one of his better games.

during the highlights it looks like he was outmusceld for the first* then even though shade was easily beaten on the third, he'd v lost/couldn't keep up with his man hence trying to  cut the ball out instead and putting it in his own net.

*or was it Kinsella

I don't really have a point

I would personally never expect any chairman to be open and upfront about budgets with fans and the outside public.  This could impact our ability to sign players, negotiations when we sell players etc.

Its Clem's job to get bums on seats.

If Clem was taking money out of the business (like the Glazers do with Man Utd) then its a complete different story.  However as far as I am aware, Clem hasn't withdrawn any salary/dividends from Swindon and is owed a substantial amount in Directors loans.  His end goal is to try and take Swindon to the next level (which I am guessing would be a Championship side) with the hope of selling the club for a profit.  The chances of this happening are slim in the short term, but with a decent 15-20 year plan this could be possible.  The problem is fans naturally want success this season.

If Swindon were in the premiership now (ie like Luton), fans would still complain that things could always be better.  

I think we've gone round this in circles, but I'm kind of interested in the reasoning as to why you think there's excess budget.

nobody hopes you're wrong btw. And nobody can prove it either way - the proof will be in the pudding.
---
I don't think Clem has millions lying around  to chuck in, so that side is moot. I'm basing that on past events.
--

That line alone shows you’re just trolling. Morfuni’s track record is a January fire sale and lose our better loan players resulting in us coming out of January weaker than we were before it. If he achieves that again this season it’ll be some going.

Before all the dodgy news starting coming to the fore he couldn’t get his face in front of people enough, now he’s been found out he’s basically gone into hiding. He’s replaced the CE and CFO who were Town fans who’s priority would have been STFC with two Axis yes men which alone should send alarm bells ringing for everyone.

I don't even understand what you're saying?

So we should just be fine with whatever we're told, even if it's a lie just because we might end up being good in 15 years time if we flog a few players and stumble across a promotion against the odds.

Sounds fantastic. Sign me up for 20 years of that.

Again, are your privvy to Swindon's finances?  Most people seem to think that as we have one of the highest average home gates we should therefore have one of the bigger playing budgets in the league.  This would be correct if Swindon were profit making and solvent.  However due to piss poor financial management in the past, I'm pretty sure some of the excess ticket sales revenue which Swindon have experienced since Clem took over has been reinvested back into the club to pay off historic trading debts rather then on player recruitment.

The issue is all fans demand success from their clubs now.  Most fans would be happy for their chairman to be reckless and invest lots of money in the hope of success.  However those same fans will then complain when everything comes tumbling down and their club goes into admin or even worse end up like Bury.  Lets wait and see what happens to Salford in a few years time when Neville and Co stop financing the club.  They will end up back in the Conference North.  Some may argue that they had a few good days out in league 2 and won some good cup games in the FA Cup/EFL cup.  However in the grand scheme of things will it be worth it ? 

 

No, it's not worth the time or effort.

The Clem police are out protecting their master again.

Just a reminder that you are protecting a man who was more than happy to lie and throw the former CEO under a bus.

Ha! This kind of remark just makes me laugh.

True though isn’t it?!

Couple of things there that made me smile.

You honestly think that fans of more successful clubs spend as much wasted time and energy on their clubs finances and dodgy owners than little ole Swindon? And actually get the answers? Oh, by successful I don’t mean the regular trophy winners, just clubs higher up the pyramid than us.

Also welcome to the the stadium of despair. There are those of us who have been supporting town with our time and money since the sixties and seventies and Eighties long before our flirt with the PL. So let me let put it out there for you to ponder. When I started to watch Swindon it was circa 1973 or 1974 it’s a bit vague now please forgive me. We were in Division 2 the old championship and finished bottom and were relegated to division 3 now L1 since then most of our time has been spent yo yoing between L1 & L2. So you don’t want to be signed up for the next twenty years as it stands? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Welcome to our world you whipper snapper. Get used to it because fuck all will change. The only real chance of us getting to the championship at best is going to take £millions to develop the ground and £millions spent on the playing staff and about a minimum of 10 years, if we are lucky.

Sorry to spoil your day.

If we are talking expectations, which really are the driver of moaning, the championship is a distant distant dream.

I'm accepting of that.

league 1 isn't a distant dream. That is where we should be. But we are where we deserve to be right now

Clem has come in and the 6-7m he and keily invested has kept the wolves from the door. Especially removing debts to entities that could close us down (HMRC) and to those that would cause operational issues by closing trading with us and going to court (puma, for e.g).

I doubt anyone wouldn't see this as a massive positive and completely necessary priority 1.

The issue is what happens next, whether Clem and co can stabilise the finances and provide on the pitch.

What's the timeframe on that?

oh and personally the trust I had in the bloke is gone. I guess that's irrelevant until the day it's shown we are being taken as mugs - hopefully that never comes

Yeah that's what I thought. If you can't be bothered to articulate your thoughts what's the point on being on here.

I wondered how long till you popped up. I unlike a lot of you keyboard warriors on here actually have a balanced view of the world and can look at positives as well as negatives.

I mean, again. Thank you for your service? But just because you've had to put up with decades of misery doesn't mean it always has to be that way.

I don't see the point, as you have blinkers on and don't listen to other people's views.

Actually, he is over stating his misery.  Until the past 6 years or so, we've largely avoided being down in Div 4 for much more than a season, usually going back up as Champions.

Last season was one of the worst on record for our club, in terms of league finish.  The recent trend is far worse than any suffering fans of 50 years+ have experienced.

I don't even know what your view is. Because you won't tell me.

Is this some one else who shouldn't be on here? Like me?

Go on, I'm itrigued, I'll play.

Have you looked at our financial accounts, as an Accountant?  Have you looked at a substantial sample of other clubs accounts to get a comparison?

I know the produced Accounts only provide a limited snapshot of financial performance and budgets etc., but what you should find is a business with Revenue in the top 7 for this Division, even allowing for other clubs having "lucky" sponsorship income or funding excessive losses.

Also, you made a factually incorrect statement at some point in the past 5 pages or so.  Clem has not reduced the debt, he has moved it.  The business, which runs the club, still owes 7m, just to different people.  We know most of that is Clem and one of Clem's businesses (because it says so in the Accounts).  We also know that 2.9m has been loaned to the business in the past financial year, which has not yet been reported, to clear the Debentures.  We know who received shares in the business at the time that deal was struck, but we do not know the terms of that financing and how they will end up appearing in the accounts.  The wording used thus far suggests a liability and not a equity investment.  Therefore, the available data suggests we still owe all this money.

Now, if we have a top seven ish income (based on what we can see) then we should be able to finance  a top seven player budget.  Especially as there is no evidence that the income is being used to pay down the debt to Clem.  I will caveat that point right now though - what we do not know is the deal Clem reached to pay off the Debenture.  It could very well be that he is paying that off from the clubs income and it would perfectly explain a decision like selling Wakeling while he was on the bus to a game on deadline day with no hope of getting a replacement (they don't sell players in WH Smith at the services last I checked).  Clem has not come close to saying this out loud, but it would make sense and be a potential reason why we find ourselves with about 14 useful players.

Some have tried to make a good counter point to this view that everyone is just moaning and happy to be moaning.  Clem would have support if he outlined the scenario above - I had to pay 2.9m to clear a debt or else, to do so I struck this deal, but it means we are a bit fucked this season and maybe even next, while we try to pay some of it down and quickly.   Instead, he tried to avoid telling anyone it happened, then lied about why and how, then said we were competing for promotion.  He did not say, as you suggest, that we consolidate by not spending much this season and prepare for another go next season.

By the way, do people really think a Manager would leave some money on the table before the end of a transfer window by choice?

only if said money left over was insufficient to get what he needs through hopefully temporary wage inflation.

I think it's pretty clear from Flynn's own words he wanted more in.

But again he wasn’t wrong was he, Angus was continually undermined by a lying owner and has now been replaced by an Axis yes man.

The thing that baffles me is it’s obvious that we are short of numbers and that we had suspensions pending and any other injuries that could happen yet we had a couple of trialist who were doing well who we could have offered short term contracts to see us through until January.

There is no way a club with nearly 7m in Revenue can only support about 14 proper professionals in L2.  It's not like we signed a bunch of L1 wannabe's on high wages.  To me, it has to be the case that money is being used elsewhere, and maybe for good reason.

Getting an accurate picture of a L2 salary is tricky, but perceived wisdom has it around the 100k a year mark.  If that was the case, even holding an average sized squad of average ability, you'd struggle to see us spending enough with what we have on the books.  Nothing about our squad says it has top seven funding.

I imagine they were kept around to ensure we have productive training sessions, nothing more.  We would struggle to put 11 v 11 sessions together without them for example.

I don’t know RA and I don’t know anyone on the Trust top table. I have the utmost respect for all of them to varying degrees for what they have done over the years, with the most reserved for RA. That said I cannot help feeling that Aberdeen was used by Clem & Co. And the Trust by association. Again my own opinion rather than anything else is that at some point Aberdeen realised he was Clem & CO’s and I hate to say this, their useful stooge. Which if it turns out to be true is a fucking disgrace and a more than poor reflection on the owner/s. Maybe I’m way off the mark but given all that has gone on from the time Clem stumped up the money to Pee Lower all those years ago up until now. As sweet smelling as a chunk of stinking bishop on a hot summers day.

Its difficult to compare and contrast Swindon accounts filed at Companies House with other football clubs.  In the last accounts filed by Swindon they decided to file a profit and loss account (which they did not need to do) so you can see turnover and costs.  I did a quick search of Accrington Stanley and Colchester and they filed filleted accounts (ie accounts which don't show any profit and loss information).  Its difficult to compare and contrast without seeing more detailed accounts of other clubs (ie which show a profit and loss) and also how their turnover is broken down (ie Swindon turnover increased by 2 million from May 2021 to May 2022 but I would like to see a breakdown of player sales, cup run tickets and normal game day sales revenue).  The season we played Man City in the cup for example would have helped our turnover and profitability and skewed our results.

Swindon made a modest profit of £158k in year to May 2022.  All previous years the retained losses have increased by nearly £1 million which indicates they have been this type of loss each year.  This isn't sustainable in the long run.

Clem has saved the club by taking on the debt himself.  Ultimately one of two things will happen.  He will either sell up and recoup his money back (this will only happen if we go up a couple of divisions).  The other is that as time goes by, he realises lower league football clubs don't make any money.  He will write his debt off and someone new will take over the club.  They will then try and take the club to the next level and most likely fail.

Ah just the negatives again, shock.

I think it’s pretty clear that’s exactly what happened. Morfuni manipulated the Trust and more vocal fans into supporting him with his takeover. Then kept them onside whilst he got hold of 50% of the CG along with having Greg Norman & Angus in key positions during this time to make it look like everyone had the best interests of the Club at heart. It’s no coincidence that the moment the ground purchase was completed both have since departed and been replaced by Axis stooges and now he’s pretty much made the Trust into a pointless organisation he only pays lip service to them now. I think it’s clear to see that Morfuni will manipulate anyone that helps him get what he wants.

You really hate the fact you can’t deny it don’t you?!

I’m sorry, but the L1&L2 yo-yo club has only really happened over the last decade. Throughout our history we’ve predominately been a League One club (yeah, huge difference I know) with the odd venture into the Championship, and now, L2. I’m not someone blinded enough to think we can become this sustainable Championship club, but I don’t think asking for Swindon Town to be a team that is steady in L1 is a huge ask. After all, it’s what the club has been for the majority of its history. In fact, I don’t think it’s much to ask for a competitive team in L2, but that is apparently a bridge too far these days.

Of course, every club suffers poor periods in their history, and as a fan you sign up for some shit times too, but 20+ years outside of the Championship and six of our last seven season in the basement division indicates that we’ve had more shit in recent years than clubs of similar size to us. And no, I’m not asking for us to magically do a Luton or Bournemouth either. Just being even a Lincoln would do.

Thing is we don't need Clem to fund it. We fucking fund it. We pay money and turn up and provide revenue. What is the issue? Saying Clem can't fund it makes it sound like we're looking for a hand out and we're not. We're looking for what we fucking deserve.

We don't deserve to have a shite budget comparable to clubs that get fuck all support in this league, we simply don't.

You fancy the 6 seasons in non league?

The funny thing is those teams that suffer that & come back do seem to come back stronger, however there are plenty that don’t (or haven’t yet) made it back.

Third of the crowd town then.

Pathetic support from those club stealing plastic franchise cunts.

Haha, obviously a current Lincoln, but yes, I do agree. Those clubs who bounce back up from NL, always seem to hit a bit of momentum and grab a promotion or two in the EFL when back.

They must have a very patient owner who continues to back that shit😁

Going off on a tangent how fantastic is Stadium MK? Had a slight disagreement with another fan yesterday at the concourse bar yesterday during halftime when he was making it known how soulless it was and how he’d take the County Ground every time because of its ‘character’. I might be in the minority but Stadium MK is everything we should be aiming for. Comfortable padded seats with plenty of legroom not to mention great view wherever you are sat. Stadium MK way too big for the franchise but why wouldn’t you want similar in Swindon?

If they had 5000 fans there yesterday my cock’s a kipper.

I agree. Did you see the queue walking out for the Halloween event they were putting on for the kids.

That’s what Mr Brady wanted in 2001😁

It will, just not for the better.

I wouldn't say I was impressed with Genesini but he has been by far the best of a very bad bunch at LWB, the others being Shade, Ward and Uwakwe.....*shudders*

The fact that we make losses every year (except for 2022) would indicate that the revenue we generate does not cover the day to day costs. As a result Swindon need to cut overheads accordingly to break even. The easiest way to do this is by reducing wages (hence playing budget).

https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/status/1088062762599804929

Interesting tweet from a few years ago.  Pompey used to have massive debts but went into administration and presumably most of the debts were written off.

like that, but smaller with chance to expand. we don't need 8.5k in a 30.5k stadium. I'd hate that.

realistically though we'll replace stands slowly rather than a big bang new stadium. TE, SB and arkells. drs can stay

Who can we compete with? I'm not expecting us to compete with the wealthy owners gang on budget, but us and Bradford should have the top budget outside of them. I can't see evidence that is the case based on our wafer thin squad.

The fact that we make losses every year (except for 2022) would indicate that the revenue we generate does not cover the day to day costs. As a result Swindon need to cut overheads accordingly to break even. The easiest way to do this is buy reducing wages (hence playing budget).


oooh oooh. Mr manc... he started it this time.

According to the AB Q&A we've not reduced this ongoing loss over the last year.

so yeah . Clem does have to cover it, or we go backwards

unless we have a pathetic squad next year of course

That's if you believe a word of those minutes of course.

Reducing the budget has the not surprising knock on effect of reducing the number of paying fans.

Until we slip down the league table!

We can be sustainable on our crowds and ticket prices and have a top 7 budget which we clearly don't have. It doesn't add up and the trust should be trying to get to the bottom of it. This season is in danger of becoming a colossal failure simply because the bucket hatted aussie fraud isn't delivering the competitive budget he promised.

We have a decent manager and some decent players but stopped short of providing an actual squad. As soon as we played two games a week the wheels have come off. All before the clocks changed as someone above said.

Abysmal and not what we deserve.

the circle of decline.

But I would say our fans base has been remarkably resistant to mediocre results. credit to them

Will they continue to be. I make no predictions as I thought we'd lose far more than we did this season.

Yes please. I would very much like a budget that looks like it lives within our means and not a lower League two side like Accrington Stanley. Please and thank you.

Trouble is we’ve gone from being prolific scorers despite offering up numerous chances to being a little toothless whilst still offering up those chances.

Mike Ashley was supposedly at Reading yesterday. They’ll be down anongst the dead men with us next season.

We have multiple kids who've not taken their GCSEs yet filing the bench. Anyone with a fully functioning set of eyes and a brain says it isn't competetive.

I'm not sure if this is just being gullible or an eagerness to bootlick.

Which makes it even more laughable.

Some people will believe anything.

I guess the big question when talking about loss making is what exactly is included in the £2.3m of admin expenses. It’s a big value with very little detail as to what it contains and we all know what admin expenses covered in the Diamandis days.

(https://media.tenor.com/kfEG5MiCW78AAAAd/confused-look-smiles.gif)

Well we (the trust) are supposed to be but we're still waiting. Another Clem empty promise/lie.

You are right that for business reasons there must be a degree of circumspection around the actual details of budgets. But no one has been questioning that.

Clem has taken over the club promising a new era of transparency, in conjunction with the Trust. Since then, without detail being required, he has not been open about paying down debt and/or the ownership of the club and the claim as to the availability of a "competitive budget" has looked liked the trickiest of sales puff.

Anyone can "sell" something by claiming candour and then hiding the reality of their product or service.  Once.  

If Clem's job is to get "bums on seats", then how would you read the trends and judge him to date?  

Clem well knows that pitch performance is a factor there.  As is budget. But you can motivate support in other ways too if there is a project, a story, a journey with which people want to get involved.  If it is 100% genuine.

Fans at all levels are financially unrealistic.  And so are many at STFC.  That "surprise" is not a basis on which to defend Clem's stewardship.  I will judge Clem, like all other owners, on where they leave us.  Right now, we are  
emerging from our 2nd (?) worst finish in over 60 years of the 4 tier game, gates are starting to fall and there is a growing lack of trust in Clem.  Perhaps don't blame your customers?

How do you know the composition of our wage structure.?. For all we know we may have a few big earners on substantial wages who aren’t cutting it. Those wages could have been better spent elsewhere ?  Are Morris and Co still being paid by Swindon ?

Swindon are a loss making league 2 side (just like every other team in our division ). What would you do to increase the playing budget whilst also ensuring the money isn’t just loaned from an investor or Clem ?  Ticket prices are already high and fans would moan if these are increased 

In your opinion what should Swindon do to strengthen the squad and how would you achieve this ?

Boring post alert….

We have won some games.
We have lost some games.
We have drawn some games.

Therefore, we have been competitive.
Therefore, we have a budget that has enabled us to be competitive.
Therefore, we have a competitive budget.

Can we please fucking move on!

Genuinely wonder if some are being facetious saying that this isn't obvious.

People need to move away from the thoughts that better attendance = better budget.

A team getting 2k every week with a massive per annum sponsorship deal is going to be better off than a team getting 9k every week with a pitiful per annum sponsorship.

Higher crowds have a knock on effect.
More people to work the turnstiles, more stewards, more police, more cleaning needed after, more maintenance, more St. John’s ambulance on site, more H&S regulations to meet. I dunno, there is some guess work in there but there is no way it’s as straight up as more home fans = more money.

Bradford have probably been getting the best home support in the bottom 2 divisions for the last 20 years and done nothing with it.

I don’t know the Swindon budget. I don’t know how it compares to other teams. I don’t know what we spend. I don’t know what we bring in but I do know it’s never ever gonna be a simplistic as we should have a better budget because we get better attendances.

how dare you try to stop this circular argument NMH.

😬

depends on your definition of competitive I suppose. But basing it on league position in October isn't my way of judging.

on football, it's an interesting 4-6 games coming up. I think without Mansfield and Stockport we'd be looking to take a fair few points.

October was unusually tough and although came up short I don't think it's a true gauge of where we are

What would you do in Clem position ?  You are owed a few million from Swindon with no realistic way of this being repaid unless we go up a few divisions.

If he put the club on the market nobody will realistically buy the club unless all debts are wiped clean and they can start from a clean slate.

A lot of the above posts slate Clem ownership and what he has done. However I haven’t seen any realistic solutions. People say it’s time for someone else to take over. If I owned a failing business which owed me millions I would be reluctant to give it away from free. That’s his only realistic choice at the moment.

The thing is we’re just outside the play offs and nicely placed once we get through injuries and suspensions and who knows Flynn may have some money and decent players lined up in January.

Its definitely soulless. You'd hope having fans with a bit about them might change that.

I'm personally not a fan of identikit bowls, but in an ideal world we could build half of a similar looking stadium where The Town End and Arkells are now and then knock and rebuild something small and simple on Stratton Bank.

how did Lee power make money rom the club? There's always that option for him

We can't just point towards us making a loss as evidence when Power very clearly was robbing us blind.

I agree with this. Surely being 3 points off the playoffs with a game in hand is competitive? It's not like we are 17th or something (yet)  or been on a terrible run of defeats ( like the amazing squads of Bradford,  gillingham and Franchise have been)  just my opinion before I get shot down as a  simpleton happy clapper...


 

Fucking hell. The grim reaper.

Although he did manage to sell Newcastle to Saudis.

I’d be shocked if Flynn didn’t know what the budget was before he signed on, and he thought it was a competitive budget. Now that was before Wrexham & Notts County started spending relatively big so maybe now not as big as expected.

In his interview on the radio he did say that some clubs were spending silly money and agreed when saying there were probably 7 clubs with bigger budgets than us (including Forest Green & Salford who both are clearly getting smaller crowds than us).

He also said he preferred a smaller squad, but presumably wanted a few more than the 21 we’ve got.
Having 6 players missing yesterday (albeit that includes Devine who has been available even less than Lyden but not Kanu who was effectively Wakeling’s replacement).

Because he didn’t pay any bills, Clem is doing that (even if some payments are a bit late)

Oh come off it  :girlgiggle:


No finished last month.


I'm convinced you're being facetious/trolling.

There are a handful of league two clubs with budgets outside their means. Outside of this only Bradford should be able to compete with us budget wise based on revenue.

Are there any other clubs even close to our stature that can't fill a bench without ripping apart the youth team that you'd like to use as evidence this is par the the course? Are there even any in League Two at all?

We won most of our games at the start of the season, before the lack of squad depth became a huge issue.

So no, we can't move on. Not even a little bit.

Flynn was right when he said without injuries and unavailability things would look better.

my question would be, with everyone except devine fit - do we have enough?

my answer is no. we are clearly a striker and a left wing back short, minimum.

While we get emotionally blackmailed with threats of further cuts if we don't turn up and turn out, this is plainly unfair to say.


We're not expecting to compete with the clubs with big sponsorships through rich owners. We're expecting to be the next best outside of this which is fair.


Bradford sell season tickets for 4 shillings and a sixpence. So it is relative and there is some level of context that you're missing there.

Flynn told us ideally we were 4 short and then sold Wakeling and didn't replace him. It says it all. We've been told. Stevie Wonder could see this was coming.

What on Earth was that really heavy base vibration around MK Stadium yesterday?

You felt it and heard it too then?

Yes but I’m not specifically talking about the big boys. Accrington have been used as an example so I’ll stick with them.

What’s Accrington’s budget? What are their outgoings & what are their incomings? How
Much of their income is from attendances and how much is from sponsors?
If there incomings are more than their outgoings - they are already ahead of us regardless of anything else.

Earning £100 and spending £50 still leaves you better off than earning £10,000 & spending £12,000…

So how would you solve the situation then bearing in mind we are a loss making club. How would you increase the playing budget without getting finance from external source which would be treated as a debt ?

I’m all ears and I’m sure there are plenty of football league chairman who want to hear his this wonderful idea.

https://www.stadiummk.com/news/marshall-arena-opens-doors-to-a-full-day-of-drum-bass/

Not one of the ones that publish accounts to include the P&L, so very tricky to get into any level of detail.  On the eye test, the Balance Sheet looks quite healthy, they seem to owe money to an internal business which was used tp purchase something that has boosted their assets.  The retained profits jumped by over 600k in 2022, so you can assume that was a Profitable season, but you cannot determine the costs and income.

I agree with your point that attendances alone do not provide enough insight - you have to look at more detail, like how does that translate to Revenue/Income.  In our case, we generally rely entirely on Revenue, money earned through trading, and we are (from memory) about 1m short of Bradfords Revenue.  That shows their pricing reduces the impact of those high attendances a little.  A club like FGR earns a little less than us and half of their Income is a sponsorship deal with Ecotricity, so much less is earned through normal trading.  Net/Net we should be able to out compete them still, if income was the only factor in performance.  From previous seasons, I think we were on a par with Leyton Orient, if not a bit better than them, similar for Carlisle.  Wrexham are likely the anomaly this season, they were willing to lose nearly 3m last year, so you don't even begin to try and compete with their spending.

You say we are a loss making club, using the books produced by Power for his last three years I assume.  He actually turned a healthy profit for a couple of seasons, with player sales, before that.

Under Clem, we have one full year, which turned a profit.  We have nothing for this season.  The Man City game did indeed provide a boost, a couple of hundred K if we believe the AB minutes, so likely we were Break Even without that one.  However, such one off's are actually quite common in football - this season we cashed in on Wakeling for example.

Now, we could be running at an Operational Loss for the 22/23 season for all I know - we don't have any data.

I do think Clem conflates cash with profit/loss - he talks like he includes all the things he has had to pay for in the statement about making a loss.  In a pure cash and personal position, he is right, in a trading position of the business, not necessarily so.  I would not be surprised to see us making a small loss in 22/23 (we paid off Managers and had over 40 players on the books).  I think this season we have reacted to that, and the the Debenture being called in and shifted to survival mode with good PR and a good Manager.

Exactly what I'd love to be in a position to understand. The reason why we go back to attendances and ticket prices is, its tangible and its public information. Outside of the trust getting a good look at the books (will that ever happen) we won't know even on our side.

Their last home attendance was 2,100, ours was 8,850 on a Tuesday, but we'll use it for arguments sake.

An extra 6,750 tickets 23 times a season even at a low claimed average ticket price like a tenner is not insignificant money. Its £1.5m a year more revenue.....conservatively.

Unless you think Accringtions sponsors What More UK are paying that sort of money per season more than our main sponsor then you're just devils advocating the conversation to death for the sake of it. That would be over half their yearly profit spent on sponsorship. I'd be surprised if they pay 10% of that.

Which is what happens whenever anyone complains about ownership. People just drivel on about how "we don't know" like we're supposed to have hard evidence to back everything up or not talk about it.

Which contributes to things like being lumbered with Lee Power for 8 years or whatever it was.

You said this before and I responded including another question, but instead you've ignored it and responded to a later post.

But you know that, because you're trolling.

You're wasting your time, he knows all this. Plus the fact that we were being robbed blind by Power not considered.

Clearly not arguing in actual good faith, so we're wasting our breath.

I mean, it is in his name to be fair. Goods as advertised.

I managed to obtain some budgetary details from someone I know closely involved with another League Two club a few months back. 

It was ~£500k per season higher than the bottom wring of clubs like Newport, but ~£500k off of the next highest budget. What I recall seeing is that it's a very slight and steady decline down the budget table below us, but above, the difference starkly rises. Everyone above was the expected clubs with benevolent benefactors.

…but the point is that extra £1.5m a year isn’t an extra £1.5m a year. You’ll need to take away any additional costs incurred by having bigger attendances.

Like purely for arguments sake - would we be better off financially on a match day closing the Town End and forcing everyone into the side stands?

…and again, then spending comes into it - all well and good bringing in that extra £1.5m but if we are spending an extra 2m a season it’s still a deficit

You're completely ignoring things like extra revenue from food and drink sales to bigger crowds. Your point isn't even worth making when you miss things like that.


Which is kind of the whole point of the conversation. We're not paying for fuck all for anything.

I haven’t seen an answer (or it isn’t appearing on my computer if so). The only comment I see is Power robbed us blind.

Swindon are breaking even or making a small loss. How would you increase the playing budget in a sensible manner. I am genuinely interested to know.

To me you sound like one of those blokes down the pub who says they managed to put their holidays, dogs food etc in their accounts and got a £5k refund (ie talking bollock). When they know they are losing the argument they just repeat same old tripe (ie in your case that I’m a troll).

Anyway cba for this. Ultimately there is nothing we can do as Clem is in charge. People have differing views on his ownership to date and that’s that.

Comparing Swindon historically with Accrington would be stupid anyway. Historically Accrington have owned their stadium since 2018 so wouldn’t have to pay rent etc. Swindon only started owning the stadium recently. So whilst we may get £1.5 million extra sales, they would have saved loads on rent and other associated outgoings.

soapy tit wank fuck off.

Shite facetious question while ignoring my question and other posts.

Because you're a twat.

That's it, you have lost the argument, so start getting offensive to people. Well done

Yep, that 120k a year in rent has crippled us.  Also, as owner occupier, they are fully on the line for all costs, whereas we were just on the line for maintenance, which we didn't do because Power disputed such terms with the Council.  Clem has an argument here, around the cost to make good the dilapidations, but it was a known cost on taking the club, so should have been budgeted for when deciding to do it.  It was not hidden, it was well reported, just like the Debentures were.

Of course, Clem could remove most of the debate here - very few people are knocking him personally or think he is some sort of crook.  Most just want him to back-up his original statements when taking over the club - be open and transparent.  He hasn't been, we have minimal to no financial information available.

Without fear of repeating myself, it can be done...

https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/club/finances/annual-audited-financial-statements/

Of course, he doesn't have to, but then at least we can call him a bullshitter and be done with it.  Accept our mediocrity (there is no other way of describing last season and the current position of the club on the field, regardless of context as to why).

I'm arguing Clem isn't giving us a fair shake based on the revenue we have and he's facetiously asking me to invent ways to increase revenue while ignoring my other posts asking him questions.

There is no good faith argument. It doesn't exist. He's on a twatty wind up.

 I see owners as stewards of STFC. I am only concerned by how they leave the club.  I have as little interest in their personal financial welfare as they do in mine.

Jed, Black and Power have all let STFC down to various degrees and in different ways.

When Clem defeated Power, he preserved his own autonomy over losses he would otherwise have incurred.  

But, he chose to style himself as a White Knight, who though not wealthy, would be able to keep the club running and, above all, who would introduce transparency to the management of the clubs affairs.  As a gesture of intent, STFC would collaborate with the Trust and indeed Rob Angus moved from the Trust to the Club.

Clem is responsible for his own PR and the Club's, as well as for "getting bums on seats", a key financial component.  

If he is failing:

1. he risks worsening his ability to extract a good proportion of his and others' investments in the club by finding a sound buyer, and
2. he risks harming the club's ability to progress above L2.

I shall wait and see how Clem leaves us.  He's the boss.  I simply "enjoy" going to games or watching them online.

In the Trust's position, I would be considering the value of independence over "arms-length/chinese wall" closeness .  Clem and STFC are distinct entities.  It is wild speculation but I'd hazard a guess that one factor in Rob Angus' resignation decision may have been that he was foreseeing conflicts of interest.

The attached is great from Carlisle.  It’s very informative and I think it’s great their accounts are audited externally.  However your bog standard fan won’t really have a clue what all of it means. All they care about is that Carlisle are in the relegation zone in league 1 and they need to get better players in (by no doubt having a better playing budget). Fans will unfortunately prefer instance success by pushing the boat out now and don’t really care about what happens in the longer term.

Even if Swindon were as transparent as above, fans will always demand more (which is fair enough as we all want Swindon to be successful).

I don’t think you understand. Swindon are either breaking even or making a small loss.

How can Clem increase the playing budget without dipping into his own pocket or by increasing the debt which Swindon has (ie instead of pay a VAT bill he uses that money to invest in the team).

He can only do it by increasing revenue streams (ie cup run, revenue from non football activities) or by reducing non football wage costs.  The savings can then be reinvested into the team.

If you were to argue that Clem hasn’t given us a fair crack because his management appointments etc have been pants then that’s fair enough. However if your argument is purely financial (which it appears to me to be the case) then it’s not logical and you are making a fool out of yourself.

 

OK, lets expand on this.  A significant issue I raised in another post was around the described Goal of having a top class Academy (Level 2 was the designation).  This is a potential way to bring in a new revenue stream in the future, maybe a medium term one because it should take a few years to get the youth talent through.  I can buy into it as an idea.

However, you do not get that just by wishing it so, you need to invest.  It's at least a 10 million over 4 year commitment if you want to do it.  Other clubs have shown it, or a variation on brining in youth talent, can be leveraged to bring in a steady stream of income.  We have thus far recruitment some empty roles in the Youth set-up and used a local firm to put some scaffolding up, and maybe set-up a training weekend with an Australian private Academy.  I see nothing suggesting we have actually started working on this goal.  So even the things Clem has stated we will do, to move the club forward, are left as no more than words on a PowerPoint.

I think its pretty obvious to anyone reading the thread I'm arguing that the budget isn't reflective of the revenue streams we currently have at the moment. Comparing to other clubs it doesn't add up to us running at break even or a small loss unless every other club in the division (not the obvious Wrexhams, etc.) are all running at MASSIVE losses.

When compared to other much smaller clubs, we appear to be leaving money on the table, which means either 1. Clem is breaking his promise of not taking money out of the club himself 2. We're being genuinely horrendously mismanaged which is why we're pointlessly bleeding money or 3. We're wasting money still paying a fortune in the form of consultancy fees to Powers mates of Britains most wanted who were hanging around before Clem was here.

I'll say it again, we cannot fund a squad capable of filling a bench without taking liberally from our youth team. We have a handful of injuries and suspensions. This isn't happening all over the league. We have a problem with our budget other clubs that take in a lot less revenue than us are not having. Why?

If the Trust get the access they were promised, we might get answers. But as I suspect, its probably another bare faced lie from "The real deal".

Based on what we make Clem is either completely incapable of managing the clubs finances, or he is another Power, so which is it? Because it doesn't add up.







But miss the fucking point and ask me again how we can increase our revenue with some condescending waffle and then act like you're not trolling. That'll be a laugh.

Where did you get the £10m over 4 years from, I've not looked at this at all and wondered where this came from.

At least you didn’t swear this time which is an improvement on your part.

I doubt Clem is taking money out of the business (he can’t take a dividend as the club has negative reserves). I doubt he draws a salary as this would have been leaked by now. He might take a minimal amount in consultancy fees but there would be a related party note in the accounts which would confirm this (there wasn’t any in the 2022 accounts).

I’m sure there are ways to improve/lower non football staff playing  costs (ie Swindon owning the stadium should save on rent).  Swindon would have a finance department looking into all of this and I doubt this would be overlooked.

Ultimately it is in Clems interest to have Swindon completely streamlined and finances all in order as this should help with a future sale.

In my mind there is either unused playing budget (which will be used in January if the right players come along). Otherwise the budget is fully utilised and Clem isn’t willing to pump more money into the business with a high chance he will never recoup it. I have no issue with that as most people would be the same (unless they really loved the club and money wasn’t the major motivating factor).

It’s easy to criticise when it’s not your money at stake. Hopefully one day you win £50 million on the euro millions and decide to buy Swindon and do things your way. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts after 2/3 years of owning Swindon.

I'm just pointing out that something clearly doesn't add up. The condescending shite in your posts is nothing more than that....shite.

I'm still waiting for all the other clubs in the league needing to raid the youth team for players to fill a bench as well, as a way of reassuring me things are totally normal and I'm paranoid.

Someone in another thread said maybe we know a points deduction this season is coming, so we're spending as little as possible right now because of it. That would at least make sense. But something isn't right and nobody is buying "not the right players" crap from Flynn. Just towing the company line.

surely if you know a points deduction is coming you overspend to make sure you don't go out the EFL.

Depends on the severity.

I’m sure there are plenty of other teams in our league who have had their injury problems which we are not privy to and have had weak benches etc.

The irony is if we had a better week (ie picked up 6 points out of 9 instead of 1), then you wouldn’t be making your ridiculous comments and blaming Clem for our recent down turn in form.

Once you come up with meaningful suggestions on how things can be improved then I’ll take you seriously. However the majority of your comments are nonsense. That along with your swearing just sums you up that you don’t really have a clue what you are talking about and just want to attach blame to someone for Swindon’s recent poor form.

Bottom line is Morfuni is skint...

He sold us a lie at the beginning of the season...

He now wants out asap.

Bills are not being paid and debts are stacking up...

He won't add to the paper thin squad because he wants the wage bill as low as he possibly can to look better for prospective buyers.


Don't be surprised if Young and Kemp are gone January

As well as Hutton and Hepburn Murphy and whoever else he can shift...

Don't be too excited about incomings they may well not happen...

Best situation he's gone in the next 2 months and the new owners actually want us to move forward

Here is that mystery new buyer that will come and spend millions and millions on STFC again.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

If this is the case, why the fuck is he dicking about trying to get an academy up and running in Australia?

I and plenty of others were complaining about our squad size before we even sold Wakeling when we were winning. So more shite. Me swearing doesn't make you right and me wrong. The content of your words without swearing quite clearly makes you wrong though when you make total bollocks claims like that.


I don't actually care that much if some condescending troll takes me seriously, to be honest.

I do enjoy the irony of you saying I don't have a clue and talk nonsense though when you clearly don't have an iota of a clue what people have been saying all season.

with respect, I think most would be more surprised if they stayed - particularly Kemp


speculation but that's not impossible if there are offers. As we saw with Gladwin and Reed last season.

We need a grim reaper emoji.

It costs well over 1m per year, nearer two at least, to staff and maintain a Tier Two Academy (based on available reports).  In order to have a Tier Two Academy you actually need a facility that you can use, which we do not yet own or have built.  Just look at the cost of the Moredon Fields sporting complex for reference here - it's a sum in excess of 5m all in to get it off the ground - I am not aware of any purpose built Academy style facilities that are available for rent.  If it's something you want to do, you have to have big balls.  

I actually think it's something worth looking at, but you are not going to achieve it by using local firms to lend you some bits of metal and a net.  Everything delivered and talked about thus far suggests we are not really trying to deliver this goal.  It's another data point to show that what we are told is not what we should expect.

edit:  before the most recent additions, the Foundation park facility was set to cost 2.4m, so assume it is now over 3m.  They actually seem to do a very good job, putting our official club efforts to shame really.  Just outsource it to them, seriously.

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/18127752.foundation-park-opening-revealed/

In reality, he isn't.  He has partnered with an existing private Academy that is already well structured.  Thus far that partnership amounts to a training weekend with Gav Gunning over two days.  Local kids can sign up for 299 AUSD and get a few hours of training.  There may be more coming, but it is not a brand new Academy for STFC.

Quite a few of them partner with International Teams - that way they can sell the dream to their parents of games abroad, for a fee.  We really don't have much detail on this one, like many other things.  Not saying this is a bad idea  - just that it seems unlikely to be a massive money spinner or likely to turn up some unseen talent in any sort of quick time.

Good one.

Someone has already done the research, on here.  We have one of the smallest squads sizes in this Division.  That clearly comes with a risk.

Next, who is actually out injured right now that changes us, Brewitt?  Nobody else really.  Devine hasn't even played a full game for us, has he?  I presume Uwakwe is injured, not exactly nailed the LWB spot down anyway.  Clayton is even back, so we really are not that stretched in terms of first teamers being out.  We are stretched because we have so few first teamers.

And finally - who is to blame for out recent poor form - well, either someone or many people are, if we are saying this is poor form.  If so, then trying to determine where that responsibility may lie seems like precisely the sort of thing you'd expect to find a forum.

Just looking through the April AB notes and I can see that mentions break even in 2025, once stadium improvements have been completed, hopefully that helps Batch.

I've looked at some of the other AB notes and can't see a mention of a tier 2 academy, not looked at them all mind.

It's on the timeline PowerPoint presentation used on those April minutes I believe.  There is a section about the Academy Project, which doesn't actually quote that goal, but the timeline shows it for 2025 as well.

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/siteassets/2022-23/documents/advisory-board-april-2023.pdf

Slide 8 = "Standards continue to improve in Academy with plans for a Category 2 Academy outlined"

The action item for the Academy states:  "A high-quality academy is essential for the future success of our
club. It provides a cost-effective way to develop homegrown
talent and builds a strong team foundation for long-term success."

As I mentioned before Australian football are introducing a new team which is supposed to be based in NZ. That team is reported to be based in Auckland and owned by the Bournemouth chap who is very wealthy.
The competition for young footballing talent is spread far and wide.
Why then would parents pay their hard earnt cash going to Saturday mornings kick about to a park near Morfuni fields Sydney. Sorry to say, in my opinion Clem Morfuni is a dreamer and can tell a tale when required. Possibly a good drinking mate.
Hope I am wrong but currently STFC are heading down a road to nowhere.

Yes i can see it now, it says "Standards continue to improve in Academy with plans for a Category 2 Academy outlined" this is post 2025, as you can see it says plans for, not they will achieve it and thats 2 years as a minimum.

So hopefully you can stop beating the drum of they haven't achieved the stated aim of tier 2 academy, as it's a long term aim.

(https://64.media.tumblr.com/25366840028929337976c31aab1508f4/881e414dce3acbcc-8b/s540x810/7a9df70f427d2d2b5153400b0ebf7aa5d1da5402.gifv)

Without wishing to bring the thread back on 'track', as I'm currently bored on the train to Euston I'd give my thoughts on my trip to the land of the concrete cows. First impressions as we parked up next to stadium:MK was that it was a mighty impressive structure. Mrs Bob was very happy with the array of shops to peruse, and after some pre-game grub (the bang bang cauliflower in Wagamamas sadly lacked the usual fiery spice, still tasty mind) and a couple of Asahi, it was onto the game. Although managed to squeeze in a pint of Strongbow dark fruits for good measure. A wise tactic as I was able to fistbump a confused looking Dan Hunt, of the Loathed Strangers pod 'fame'.

Great numbers and noise from the travelling town fans but as often happens as soon as the game kicks off, it was a bit like I imagine being on the moon. Franchise having such a big stadium and then sticking fans miles up (although the seats and view is very good) in the gods seemed strange and the lack of any noise at all in the home ends made for a pretty eerie time. The game itself wasn't really a 'classic', Franchise probably felt lucky to go in 1 goal up, both teams not really doing a huge amount.

Second half, for all the goals, again wasn't massively entertaining. RHM's energy was giving the Franchise defence a lot to think about, but often ended up down blind alleys. Charlie was getting more and more frustrated and I did wonder if our chief tactic is going to be to get the ball into Hutton to cross into the box if Young and Austin might be a better option to start games with RHM coming off the bench. With that Young came off the bench and scored a better, right in my eyeline. Sweet as a hazelnut in a jar of treacle. We then looked to dominate proceedings but Franchise then woke up a bit, Jack Payne took the game by the scruff of the neck and a neat goal followed by a harsh own goal put the game to bed. We did pull a goal back from a set-piece which made me wonder what might have happened if we had any corners, bizarrely we had a grand total of 0 which might be a first this season?

Let's not kid ourselves, October has been a struggle, we thought it might have been. The great start to the season had provided hope but whilst our first 11 remains relatively competitive, the bench has absolutely nothing too it beyond Young/RHM. November gets no easier with Mansfield and Stockport at home. We live in hope as always but it's going to be a challenge to stay in touch. Austin is starting to look more and more frustrated, I can imagine deep down Flynn might be also.

It took us 45 minutes to get out of the car park after the game, typical being kicked when you are down.

Thank you, I don’t need an award BTW. No, it doesn't, I am just pointing out historically that’s the way it has been with a multitude of owners and therefore you will not be surprised if the next decade or two are the same. After all for all of the niceness that Stadium MK has, they’re in L2 as well…

Come on inside....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Swindon_Town_F.C._seasons

Whilst we may have one of the smallest squad sizes in the division, there are free transfers  who Flynn can bring in to deepen the squad. Flynn has constantly said he wants to add quality and not quantity (which I think is a sensible approach). I’m sure these free transfers are currently better than the 16 year olds we are sticking on the bench. However longer term Flynn doesn’t seem to believe that signing the free transfers is the right strategy for the club.

Sutton United may currently have a deeper squad size then Swindon. However they are bottom of the league. For all we know their strategy may have been to have a whole squad who are solid 6/10 players whenever they play. They can therefore deal with injury crisis/loss of form of players better then we can. Swindon on the other hand may have decided to invest more of their budget on marquee players (ie Kemp, Austin) and then sacrifice having a deeper squad size. I do not know if this is true or not, this is more an example.

Things were great at the start of the season when we had a fully fit squad.  Now it’s being tested and we have lost a couple of games.

In terms of blame, I do not blame anyone. Flynn was given a budget which he has spent how he saw fit. I’m sure if he had his time back he would have maybe signed an extra couple of bodies of a lower standard just to flesh the squad out with more bodies. However he went for the quality and not quantity route.

Ultimately we are in the top 10 which is where the bookies and even Charlie Austin thought we would be  (he was interviewed by talk sport at beginning of season).  

Unfortunately there are fans on here who are unrealistic and seem to think that as we have one of the higher home gates, we should be near the top of the league. Bournemouth, Luton and plenty of other clubs mustn’t have read the memo.

Think there’s some reasonable points in there, some questionable points but I’m going to selectively pick out that last paragraph.

I think this club should at a minimum always be challenging near to the top of this division whenever we’re in it (caveat for major external circumstances), that’s the bottom line for me and every year we don’t do that is failure in my eyes and that’s not an unrealistic take. However, that opinion is separate from my opinion of whether this squad has the ability to do that, that is where you have to be realistic and see that this squad isn’t prepared well enough to do that so it would be silly to expect that. That’s where the criticism gets levelled to those involved in putting this squad together which Clem is part of as he sets the budgets. It’s not the squads fault that they’ve been set up with so little depth that our best XI has to play almost every minute and run themselves into the ground, is it Flynn’s? Potentially but if he’s hamstrung by budget then it passes him too.

Either way, we always knew October/November when we play the good teams in this league is where we’d struggle and I always said I’d hold my full judgement until we’ve played those teams and so far it looks to sadly be as expected. Get Mansfield and Stockport out the way and then try and stay in touch until January when this squad can be given a major boost with the right investment.

I suspect that many without a team are without a team for a reason.

Not sure whether any of the vociferous posters have heard of saving or money management? The simple premise being that if you don't spend money in September, October, November and December, then maybe you have more money left over in January. Then you can shop in the more expensive section for the rest of the season or invest for the future perhaps?

Free agents at this point of the season are mostly pointless. They’ll take until near Jan to get up to fitness and if they’ve not been picked up by now then it’s giving a wage to someone that’s probably not up to scratch that can be spent elsewhere in January with more options as you say. There are exceptions of course and if we have people training with us now with a view to January if others fall through then it’s more reasonable.

That’s the problem, once we went past 2 weeks after the window shut, the opportunity to bring in good/useful free agents like Flynn wanted was gone. That’s where my frustration came from, Flynn wanted more players in the window, didn’t get them (actually lost more) and then wanted 2 after the window and still hasn’t. The chance for those passed long ago and we knew we’d be stuck with this light squad until January.

My son was saying the same thing, sign someone now in £1500 a week, or sign someone in January who’s on £2500 a week.

However, recent history has shown we probably won’t spend the extra money in January.
I’d like to think we will sign Kemp on a permanent deal, and then use a loan on a Center Forward (please)

There are 11 more league games before January 1st, 33 points up for grabs (plus Crawley on New Year's Day, which with the best will in the world we won't sign anyone before). I can see the "wait for January" logic but we really could be out of contention by then on current form.

Currently, we're 9th, which isn't that bad. But the pack are catching us quickly - we're 3 points from 7th, but also 3 points from 17th!

Listened to the first half.

Watched the second.

Never moved on from Gills.

Too slow for a lot of the match.

Ten minute purple patch but never got the goal that would of changed it.

Defending laughable.

Only one positive ...Young scored. Frustrating he can nail a corker like that but miss a sitter last Tuesday night!

the second came well too late for us.

Once Young was on, the bench was very inexperienced.

Feel a bit for Flynn. Is it me or does he sound hacked off at every interview...pre or post match.

Unless I’m being stupid, which is a possibility, all that is showing me is that we’ve spent the majority of our existence in L1, and have spent significantly more time in the Championship than League Two, which is what I suggested.

You're not.

It's a possibility, but the evidence of what we deliver would suggest a remote one.

The sale of Wakeling was the alarm call - you don't do that when you still have parts missing, a small squad and nobody lined-up to sign on deadline day.  No Manager would pro-actively engineer such a situation, I just don't buy it.  No Manager will leave significant budget on the table for a future window, not with the way they are judged so quickly.   Look at Morris, he was moaning within days of stepping into the role.

The criticism's being levelled are all with the context of position - this is just plain bad for our club, abject failure.  You can offer all sorts of mitigation, but it's always going to come back to the fact we are not looking like we are hunting down or holding onto a top three spot in the bottom Division.

My understanding (I maybe wrong here) is that the Wakeling sale came out of the blue (ie he was on team bus travelling to Doncaster and was then made aware of interest from Peterborough).  The offer was too good for Swindon to financially turn down.  I don't think he would have travelled or be part of the squad if Swindon knew there was a high probability he would be sold.

We made an offer for a Hartlepool player late in the day which was rejected.  Maybe if we had more time we would have replaced him.  However Swindon may have just offered a low amount which they knew would be rejected.  At least they can then say they tried to replace Wakeling but just didn't have the time.

 

I think the offer for Umerah was lower than they had previously rejected and in installments over 3 years so I assume was very much an offer in the 'token' variety that I assume they knew was almost certainly going to be refused (done to appease fans that at least they were trying to get a replacement in?)

Looking at it, after 15 games we are broadly where we were at the same point last season (2022-23 in brackets).

Played 15
W 6 (7)
D 5 (5)
L 4 (3)

GF 33 (17)
GA 14 (24)

P 23 (26).

Big thing is we have scored more than double we had at this point last season, but let in a few more as well.

The offer for Umerah was straight from the Lee Power play book.

He's scored 1 from 14 with a sending off this year.

He dropped out of the league from Charlton and has floated around non-league. A 'punt' is all he was. I wouldn't have expected us to offer millions.

Oh I agree with regards to him as a player.
But offering below what they’ve already rejected isn’t really a punt is it? It’s a publicity stunt.