Thetownend.com

Two shite teams in poor form so any result possible!

Swindon 2 FGR 1 att: 8,150 (380 Vegans)

Losing the last few games is annoying. Losing this one would be getting close to disastrous. FGR are real bad.

Town 1-3 Gump  att: 7,234 (286 them)

I think we'll get a draw. A loss would be disastrous

FGR are bad but I'm not quite sure why.

Lots of their squad would comfortably walk into ours on paper.

Daniels, Innis, Mcallister, Stevens, Dabo for sure.

Lavinier and moore-taylor we've already seen.

Bit baffled they're struggling so much to be honest.

Got to put this lot to the sword - no excuses.

I still give a fuck.

Following a very poor team was much easier in the days before social media.

Expectation is for another defeat, which would be the low point of the season in the league. So far.

Difficult one for me, as i'm not that fussed about going, however my 7 year old lad really has caught the football bug this season, both playing and watching, and wants to go, so we're going :)

This is the ideal game to bounce back from an awful run of results. Hopefully a couple of recent absentees will be back available again.

3-1 Town

8 posts (now 9) into matchday. I know people have lives around Christmas but that still speaks volumes about how many fucks are being given.

Alternatively we've all forgotten it's Friday today. Easily done

1-1 with 7102 souls on the good ship Swintanic

Can understand the apathy of some but for me the excitement of matchday never diminishes,thank god. We'll win this

1-0 to us thanks to a 98th minute og which turns out to be the last kick of the game... the only way we could possibly hold on to a one goal lead these days ...

In keeping with the page thread. Our evening out has just been cancelled due to illness. And as I don’t give a fuck I won’t be spending £27 going to watch.

Lot of it going around - Lots of people off work before Xmas and then mixing with others over the festive period as resulted in all my family being in various stages of illness!

Our friends wife fell at the last this morning, my Mrs LL is still struggling with a typical winter lurghi and I have a milder form of Mrs LL lurghi. Regroup and meet in 2024

Any season ticket freeloaders not going tonight want to lend this free loader a ticket?

I’ve got 3 tickets for the DRS that have bailed - 2 x Covid, 1 cant be arsed

How much will you pay me to take them?  :)

Now, now!

Sippo was looking for a ticket i think

Yes please!

I’ve got them as digital tickets. DM me your email and I’ll try and send it.

2-1 defeat with Young scoring in front of 7,155 with 291 Veggie fans there.

I wonder how the pitch is holding up with all the rain recently🤔

I think I received the email..some Greek God asking for my bank details saying I have inherited $6 million.

That's him  :)

I give a fuck

So do I, and despite what many say so do they otherwise they wouldn’t get so angry about the crap that’s going on.

We’re coming down to, hopefully, see Town win a game

Oh dont get me wrong I hive a fuck, I am just fed up with it all currently.

Would love us to get a win as wins, of late, are so rare, its fucking frustrating, everything at the whole club currently is.

I think we’ll win, and I have no justification apart from FGR being total shite. Would be seriously concerning if we lost tonight.

I think most of us are in that boat to be fair

Just to clarify the “nobody gives a fuck” in the title it was tongue in cheek as nobody seemed interested in starting a thread for todays game and wasn’t implying that genuine fans had given up even if they are fed up with the current ownership.

I give a fuck, those beers in The Gluepot wont drink themselves!

COYR!!

NB - Covid seems to be ripping through everybody at the moment!

I thought it was funny 😁

 :D

Or buy themselves  :)

Turns out this game is a 19:30 kick off and it's Friday, not Saturday. Fucking Christmas time is weird man. Does at least mean no Chateaus required.

19:45 isn’t it?

That's the one. Not 3pm is the key bit! Think I'll be asleep by half time.

Although plenty have.

Another game that I feel meh about. Only going as I have a ST and like to freeload. 4 home game on the trot where I’ll have a pre match beer and food not within the ground.

Going to this as the train is the same cost as iFollow and I have my ST.

Really couldn't be less 'up for it'!

Might be the last one for a while for me.

At least there won't be any tourists there tonight

I am going but know that three and possibly four ST holders sat by me are not bothering. Combination of it being a Friday night at this time of the year, work and plus bad results.

I’m not really fussed about New Years Day games as they always seem a bit flat.

I always like an evening kick off, although the Friday did come as a suprise until last week.

Hopeful we can get something tonight and use the momentum of the last 20 on Boxing Day. It may be depressing off the pitch, but the fact remains, these matches are important, and we need to stay clear of the bottom. Come on you Reds. Hopefully some new ownership rumours to flow tonight too.

Would like to see
                            Ward
               UGM  Brewitt  Minturn
Hutton   Khan  Kinsella  Cain    Shade
                           Kemp
                           Young

like to know were the rumours of clem is selling up comes from.

Nothing more than his obvious inability to afford to run the club, and hope.

Ive been away.  Whats happened to FBT?

Would like to see...

Swindon turn up today, that is all.

I don't ever remember us playing a side who are bottom of the table, at home, who havent had a league win in the last 7 games and thinking there is a very high possibility that we won't win today.

He got a bang on the noggin at Wimbledon and hasn't been near the 1st team since.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GCiBSxsWkAAFNA5?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

Brewitt and Godwin-Malife start
Miles Obodo on the bench.

At least the back 3 are all defenders. Kokolo injured, or frozen out?

Not a bad starting eleven no excuses tonight.

Would rather see Cain than Austin to be honest but that's a half decent line up

Interesting, with his apparent lack of contract discussion

Thanks.

I hadn't noticed Kokolo not playing, thats a shame he is always fairly solid.

Does that mean that Uwakwe and/or Devine will come into contention soon?

Ok line up but still raises a few eyebrows.

FBT still out? RHM still injured? Where is Kokolo?

They are both injured. Still. For eternity

There is absolutely 0 doubt in my mind that Devine will recover from his injury issues 3 months before the end of his contract, put in amazing performances until the end of the season and then move on to someone like Lincoln. It’s the Swindon way.

Dave Hockaday on comms this evening.

Kokolo is ill today.

You've got to think RHM is gone. Which is a bloody shame. Absolutely something there.

If he hadn't got injured at the start of the season I think this was 'his year'.

Agreed. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes looks like he’s never kicked a ball, but has that unpredictability that makes him tough for L2 defences. A really strong option off the bench and a shame if he does leave.

I feel optimistic about a result tonight, that usually doesn't bode well.

Want to say 2-0 but bound to be 0-1

For the full Egbo, he has to depart after verbally committing to stay as well.

Don't know,but it seems a coincidence that he's left out altogether days after saying there's been "no discussion". Would hope Devine comes into contention some time next year!

I didn’t realise quite how bad the Vegans team was, if we lose to that then well…..

Arkells looking thin tonight.

Should be easier to spot Clem then😁

And they've done it whilst leaving out an impressive amount of our recent dross and also rans - Kadji, Garrick, Omotoye, Lavinier, Moore-Taylor all on the books. Dabo obviously also ex-us, but had a decent career.

Some generally decent players in that though - Stevens, Morton, Jenks... they shouldn't be bottom.

Having said I was going I then thought better of it, so I'm Spartacus on that front!

ill, or tactically ill? probably just ill. dokes is patient 0

Lining up in an innovative 3-0-7 formation at kick off.

Morton, McAllister, Innis, Stevens and Dabo would all walk into our starting line up.

HOLY FUCK

FFS that looked like a pen to me on live view.

Outside the box free kick and red card? We'll see on the replays if we get any

what what, What's happening

After about 30 seconds they had a man through on Ward who... might have made a good save on the edge of the box, or might have fouled/handled out of it... we'll see! Looked offside too but not given as far as I saw.

oh

That was from our kick off as well….

Looked a dive on the replay...

How was that not offside and then not a penalty and sending off?

Looked a mile offside on 2nd view and dont think Ward touched him.

https://twitter.com/jiff1967/status/1740821767953043762?t=8ta6ZbdzCh5PLsDE5WR5Uw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/jiff1967/status/1740821767953043762?t=8ta6ZbdzCh5PLsDE5WR5Uw&s=19)

would have been a red if given

if not given, surely a yellow for simulation

Phew…..we’re all good then :D

Okay so watched back, it's 17 seconds in. Ball over the top, McAllister is miles offside but not given, through on Ward who comes out of the box, makes himself big and McAllister tries to fall over him and doesn't quite manage to convince the ref. Shambolic from STFC, FGR and the officials. Liquid League Two.

Should have been a booking for diving if not a pen

Kemp finds Shade down the wing with a  lovely pass and he finds Khan but his cross is poor.

100%

Kemp cuts inside and crosses to Austin at the far post but he cant get to the cross.

Kemp looking a level above every player on the pitch so far. Some great touches.

Dokes robbed bringing the ball out and puts us under pressure but their pass is poor and Ward gets to it.

Brewitt with a terrible pass to Shade puts it straight into touch.

Vegans win a corner.

Khan rises and heads it clear.

Kemp fouled and the ref gives them a free kick! 40 yards out.

Shade and Minto combine to clear the ball.

This is dire fare

Not much quality from either team other than Kemp.

Another foul given against Kemp weakly 40 yards out.

Ward claims the ball early, good keeping.

Khan beats his man and puts the ball to Shade and his cross hits a defender for a corner.

Kemp corner onto Austins head but his header is weak at at the keeper.

Kemp finds Young down the line and he cuts inside but cant get a shot in as he beats his man.

Kemp close to releasing Shade in the box.

A bit better from us. Khan doing some nice stuff

Phenomenally bad lack of advantage from the ref there.

Dabo fouls Shade on the edge of the box. Yellow for Dabo.

Fucking awful

Khan, Kemp, Young and Shade all linking up well down the left.

FK 25 yards out on the angle of the box.

Kemp shoots but its cleared easily.

Dabo charged that free kick and was miles ahead of the wall..

Ref realised Shade would miss!

Hutton poor backpass to Ward under pressure but Ward finds touch and clears the DRS stand.

What are we doing at the back, we are literally leaving them 1 on 1 or even 1 player completely on their own. Suicidal stuff.

how we playing? who is on top?

It’s fair to say Deeney’s touchline attire is “casual”

Ward cocks up with a pass stright into touch 10 yards out.

Us marginally.

We aren't good, they are actively bad. If either side keeps a clean sheet it won't be for lack of trying.

Tom Brewitt you lucky, lucky boy. Cocks up a simple backpass, tries to make up for his own mistake and my god that looked close to a last man pen.

Brewitt with a poor tackle but Ward gets to the free ball in time.

74% possession not that means anything

Cheers

Young with a deep early cross to Austin but the keeper just gets to it 1st.

A rare one there where Austin would have had a tap in if he was just a little *slower*

Young beats his man and he crosses for Austn but its just behind him. Great chance.

Young FFS. Poor Charlie

definately, was ahead of the ball!

Shade running at men makes me wish he'd do it more often. We have a threat down the left hand side for basically the first time this season.

Shade felled on the wing after a nice cross field pass by Kinsella.

He did it very well vs Wrexham too, he needs to do it way more often.

Kemp FK to Austin and his header back to Khan but he sits back waiting for the ball instead of going for it.

Shade is one player Flynn has arguably improved, albeit from a staggeringly low base.

Dokes argues with the ref but the ref doesnt book him luckily.

UGM has looked like a competition winner again. Terrifying collapse in performance levels.

Morton all elbows and arms on Dokes all the time.

Shade 25 yarder low and hard but the keeper saves it but fumbles it. Nice.

Great cross by Dabo but no one there on the end of it luckily.

Good hit

He’s looked decent. Would have been a good get for our squad

I haven’t watched is for a few weeks. Partly due to apathy and partly being busy/away.

What the hell has happened to us?! No possession, no cohesion, not looking particularly dangerous going forward. Jesus. This game looks like two very poor teams.

The sort of cross we would like Hutton to do rather than float it

Hutton probably having his poorest game in ages, barely touches the ball as we target Dabo down the left.

Good summary - Two poor teams

100% agree. Low and hard.

Hutton gets a cross in thats low but too weak.

Poor cross by Hutton but a nice passage of play there

FGR aspire to the dizzy heights of poor.

Hutton loops a deep cross to Austin but we cant get a head to the return header.

So far they are shockingly awful, we need to get a goal to capitalise on their shitness.

The vegans are leaving 3 up top on the half way line for every corner or free kick we have. That should be giving us loads of space, but leaves us massively open to the counters attack.

Lovely pass from Shade to Kemp but the defender gets to it first, good idea though.

Ward has injected some real urgency with his distribution.

Kemp finds Young in the box but his touch is heavy.

Vegans hit us on the break and Ward has to ake a save.

Khan has looked decent so far then falls over the ball and runs it into touch, happens most games!

Hutton miles away from his man there in defence.

Vegans have a shot from 25 yards always curling wide.

So many mistakes from both teams.

Like two ageing, second-rate heavyweight boxers slugging each other in the face.

Minto makes a good defensive header there.

We’re some how even worse defensively than usual tonight, a shambles back there.

A good analogy.

Minturn not loving that LCB slot. Looks a fish out of water.

Audley Harrison definitely involved.

Him and then maybe one of those really flabby ones.

Vs Eddie Neilson.

A new low ,struggling at home to gump

Young having one of his 3/10 performances.

It’s that or a 9/10 and nothing in between.

He's injured and playing anyway.

Good round of applause on 38.

I think losing 7-0 at home to a team from outside of the league was the lowest we hit TBF.

Indeed.

At least one team was playing well that day.

Young dribbles into the box but his shot is blocked again.

This is awful from both teams. Pure relegation fodder.

Yes absolutely, this is by no means the same level as that was.

Like watching old people f***

Minturn is struggling to get anything right tonight

If Harrison Minturn never does a drag back again in his career, I'm absolutely fine with that.

That wasn’t an analogy I was expecting! 😳

I thought defensively hes been ok, he will always make mistakes bringing the ball forwards, he just does that every game without fail.

Probably the 5th time this season he has been caught out doing similar.

See any of Derek Chisoras last 5 fights.

For the love of God, blow the whistle. End this

HT 0-0 we probably just edged it but not quality.

Tough watch. Two low end league two teams hoping for the best against eachother

Miserable stuff. We've been poor, they've been worse. This is a non-negotiable must win now.

In terms of both teams, this might be the worst league game since 2006 or so. Aldershot obviously a worse Town performance, but this is 22 bad players. Maybe let off Inniss and Shade at a push.

We will lose this

Can’t wait for this fixture next year in the National League.
Absolutely 0% chance we stay up.

This is dire, but they’re here for the taking, although I’m sure they’ll be saying the same about us. Callum Morton and Matty Stevens on paper is a good strike partnership, but both looking hopeless so far. No doubt they’ll score after I’ve said that

This is shocking how long before people realize  flyn and his tatics wont take us anywhere .  ??? ::)

Definitely due a return of Gunningball.

So good a partnership that as a whole team they have scored 22 goals in the league. Exactly half of what we have.

Passing accuracy STFC 73% FGR 60%. Every fourth/third pass going awry!

watched about 20 minutes so far. played exactly like I expected - the leagues worst form club v the leagues bottom club.

what did people expect?!

0-0 so it's not a disaster

No one in any important role at this club is taking us anywhere, be that the owner, the manager and 90% of the players.

Almost entertaining but scrappy.  Forest Green very limited but not even dominated.  Referee or lino asleep in the opening 30 seconds and only Ward saved us from an "offside" goal.  FG have players on yellow, so it would be good to see those players targeted by the likes of Kemp and Shade early doors from the off after HT.

Shade MoM for us so far, winning everything down the left and has Dabo completely beaten. Keep getting the ball to him and let him attack.

Awful game, awful teams.

Flynn is at the wheel and driving 100mph in reverse.

What ON EARTH do they do on the training ground?

This is as bad as I can ever remember.

totally  agreed and nothing will change.

Not great football but fairly entertaining. WTF is that kick off routine about? 7 men in a line on the halfway line the other 3 on the edge of the centre circle and pass it straight back to the keeper who gives it straight to the opposition who then should score. Don't tell me they actually practice that. Utter shite!
 We then started to look threatening with Shade,as Sat the best outlet. Kemp started on fire but faded. Kinsella the pick of the mf,winning loads(even headers) Young's touch is way off so far, defence looking a bit better but not against quality if quantity. Can't see why Austin is starting these days to be honest. He's not sharp enough to start in my book but could be more useful in the last 30 minutes.FGR look like where they are and we're only slightly better to be honest.
Oh well,let's hope for a rare decent second half

“On paper” - Stevens hit 23 at this level a couple seasons back whilst Morton was potent for Northampton. But yeah, clearly not clicked this season

You could say the same about Austin..

Suppose so, although he also hasn’t managed double figures since 2019

Oh yes it will, you just watch.

I think there's a more than 0% chance we stay up even if we don't take another point all season, we're 13 points clear and Sutton and FGR only have 17 and 16 all season!

Steven’s has always been a handful to be fair

Fed up with his excuses  game after  game that flynn comes out with.what worrys me now january aproaching will end with loseing  key players and getting more dross in.

Lavinier on. I think we can all see where this is going...

Lose key players right at the end of January when it’s too late to replace them😁

cant wait to be proved wrong.

Laviner gives away a penalty and we win the game 1-0? maybe?

What is up with Dokes studs this season, he is constantly slipping up.

We need to be peppering this keeper

Khan has a shot from 26 yards at the keeper and the keeper fumbles it clear. Hes awful we need to pressure him more.

Young is definatley having "one of those games".

Brewitt with 2 awful clearances in a row giving it away both times.

Very end to end with no quality.
Really really poor football

Outside of Shade and Ward, who isn't?

Kemp :)

Kinsella

Kemp finds Shade who cuts inside and shoots when he should have crossed first time.

Keeper again flaps at the corner.

I thought he’d been okay too

1-0 Kemp

Kinsella has been okay, that's fair. I do think him, Ward and Shade being out standouts is probably a reflection of how low the general level is though, they're all... limited footballers.

GOAL KEMP! WHAT A MAN

BRILLIANT from Kemp. Without him we are dead

I will reiterate this point.

Sign him the fuck up.


Thought he'd been poor by his high standards, but that's why he's so important - he really can give us a goal when nothing looks on. God we're going to miss him.

That looked like an "I'm staying" gesture. GET IN you fuckers!!!!

My lord that shot was bad.

Really? I thought behind Shade hes been easily our best player, Kinsella doing ok but Kemp looking eager and making some very good passes.

Not even Pub team standard. Laugh out loud bad

Need him to stay somehow or we are fucked!

We have to hold on to this now as this lot are beyond bad.

That shot was as bad as I have ever seen against us.

Thought he'd been quiet, admittedly mostly because the ref has given him absolutely nothing. But he is our best player by a million miles, so I do expect more of him.

I am just glad hes still here...for the time being anyway.

That's the first thing i thought, if he is indeed staying, it depends on whether there is a team around him..

Young pulled down after Austin does a massive "up and under".

Town win a corner.

We need to pressure this keeper hes absolutely awful.

Im surprised some of you depressive old fuckers didn't decide that gesture was, 'we're going down'.

Dokes gets away with a hold on the striker.

This ref has just decided to give nothing all game for either side it seems. We got lucky there. Would have been red and last man penalty, no attempt to play the ball.

We WILL be dead.

Great challenge…!

Kemp wins the ball and finds Austin but his shot is terrible.

Key question, is this the first time a manager has ever worn a Louis Vuitton hoodie on the touchline?

I’ve held on to the hope that he was in a rut.

Sadly I think it’s permanent…

We’re doing our best to fuck this up.

Unfortunately I think I agree.

You could replace Hawes and Hockaday with the Benny Hill theme tune for this game.

Young beats his man but his cross is awful.

Brewitt is broken.

Att: 9,075 (485 Veggies).

When Young is bad, his feet seem comically oversized

Ex Pox and Rovers scummer Taylor coming on for them.

Is that with or without the missing season ticket holders😁

And shithead😁

This is horrendous game management, continuously leaving it 3v3 has to bite us in the arse at somepoint

What a ball from Hutton!

Shade hits the bar.

Shade hits the bar from a lovely Kemp cross. We need a second. And ideally on our recent form, about six.

He should have buried that.

I can’t believe we have the audacity to be winning this.
We’re supposed to be going down ffs

...and brilliant from Kemp

By any normal metric, we need to make a change. We have no solidity

FGR bringing a lot of experienced players off their bench. Hope our relative bench weakness doesn't come back to hurt us.

There’s not a brain cell in our team.

Hutton up to all sorts (not Khan)

It’s quite astonishing

Hutton having a mini fight with a vegan player off the ball, the ref doesnt see it.

Personally I'd be bringing Austin off, bring on another CM and have them sitting in front of the back 3.

Describing it as chaos is very accurate

Need fresh legs for Austin methinks. Cain?

This for me too.

Predictable. We are so bad.

Cain for Austin is a real drop off defending set pieces though. In open play absolutely.

1-1

SIGH

Fuck that was shit.

That has been coming and the Welsh fraud did NOTHING

Theres a surprise.

Flynn out.

Cain on for Austin.

I know we're fluid in transition, but when that goal goes in, Harrison Minturn is *not in the box* and Liam Kinsella is playing his position. It's not a Minturn exclusive thing, we keep conceding goals when our defenders are in fucking weird places.

C L U E L E S S

As shit as the squad is the game management is pathetic and that’s all on Flynn. If we lose this then he has to go.

Same shit again  :suicide:

Yeah, fed up of him now. Flynn ain't the one.

The complete inability to change anything until its too late is a fucking joke and all on Flynn.

fucks sake (1-1, I'm behind)

flynns never been the one .

I simply don’t understand this either.

Minturn has been poor.

My stream is behind but I could tell FGR were going to score purely by who posted last in this thread…

This is more like it Town. Down.

Yeah so when they equalise, Minturn and Brewitt are both playing right back with Kinsella the central player with UGM and Khan either side of him. What the fuck is this?

Some of the players aren't good enough, I don't doubt it, but structurally we are a performance art exhibition. You'd be fuming with this shape at Sunday League level.

When do we start calling for Clem the Cunt to go!? This is absolute dross!!

I would have taken Young off

You can start things off now ;)

He must go now.
Would it make any difference without a manager for a month

now he  can take  flynn with him. :badmood:

Yep,I'm usually a DOF!😂

It improved us significantly last year!

FUCKING YES

2-1 Kemp

Shade and Kemp combine, FGR's shape is no better than ours.

Right let’s try this again! 2-1 Kemp, now let’s try defending it.

Great run by Shade and his cross to Kemp, great goal.

Brilliant by Shade. He’s impressed me

Superb football!!!! GET IN AGAIN

So how we going to hang on to this lead🤔

Town score, Lets hope its not rinse and repeat again.

Any want to do the maths of how many points Kemp has won us this season?

How about no brain dead fouls lads?

Been involved in exactly half our goals (15 goals, 8 assists of 46 goals total).

Red for Deeney.

If you count games that he has scored in that we have either drawn or won by a single goal then if we win today it will be 10 points. Thats not including his assists.

McEachran coming on. I would think for Young.

McEachran on for Khan.

Literally the last man you want to see out 5 mins of a slugfest

Sonny Hart and Jaxon Brown?

I agree, lightweight non tackler.

Beautiful cross from Hutton - one of those low ones people always ask for. All but on Young's foot.

Another great ball from Hutton

Young breaks and gets in a shot thats saved and Cain has a shot and its blocked.

I said “man”

Cain had time…

Oxford we’re 2-0 up v Derby now losing 2-3 :pint:

8 mins added!

Poor shot TBH, hot headed.

Kemp in defence heads the ball to himself and then clears it.

Things haven't broken for Young today but he's run his bollocks off whilst playing yet another 90 whilst carrying an injury, for a club he won't play for this time next week. A real pro.

Cain playing like its still in the first half rather than getting the ball and keeping hold of it.

That’s fair

STAY DOWN MCEACHRAN FFS. Obvious shove in the back, goes flying miles and pop straight back up!

McEachran wins a free kick with a header!

He’s been good actually

Ward great save.

Holy fuck. That was miles offside but my sphincter just turned into a black hole.

Penalty

Classic Swindon.

Town defending.

(https://i.imgur.com/agO7FVh.gif)

Penalty to them.

High foot against a man on his knees. Fuck me. It's been given against Young right?

It’s fucking fixed😡

Saved.

Looks like he was falling over before contact

Saved!

Never a pen

HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAA

2-1 FT

WTAF

That was an absolutely shocking pen.

 :clap: :clap: :clap:

About time

Didn't Ward save a pen last time he played FGR?

FT 2-1

We did a win!

What a laughably shit game!

Have that you cunts!!!!!

Fuck me, thank fuck they bottled the pen.

Ward is good against pens was always confident 🤥🤥🤥

Two abysmal sides play out an abysmal game reffed abysmally. A lot of stupid fun in the second half, after an all time bad first.

Totally

What the fuck was that penalty given for?
Like I genuinely can’t even remotely see what the ref has given it for?

Nice to get a win but that was an awful game of football by two absolutely hopeless teams.

 5 points off the play offs. Just saying

Jesus Christ, that was both shit and sort of entertaining in a way.

But most importantly, job done

Hurry up and update the prediction league table :D

Agreed

Dangerous play/high foot from Minturn was my assumption, but harsh and arguably outside the box.

Kemp and Ward were quality, the rest weren't.

Top night all round.
We won so some will be happy
Didn’t play great though so a lot will be happy with that.

Happiness for everyone (almost)

Where / when ?

Ward saves Flynn’s job, bet he won’t thank him though!

Just prior to the ref blowing his whistle! Right in front of the ref.

This absolutely. I feel sorry for anyone who didn't get any joy from that, if there is anyone. 2 quality goals,some fantastic football and some shambolic football. It's L2 and I bloody loved it!!!

Entertaining...maybe
Good result yes
Crap football yes

Terrible standard, brilliant entertainment. Very lucky to get the 3 points imo.

The Hutton, UGM, Brewitt, Minturn, Shade defensive unit was a stone cold shambles from start to finish. Some good individual blocks/tackles/headers but absolutely zero sense of a well drilled collective.

That said, we really needed some sat right in front of them. Kinsella was decent but seemed to be doing his work away from the middle. Whose job was that? Khan? There was a chasm in front of Brewitt.

We've done it to death but I can't help liking Brewitt. In the modern age he seems to actually want to put his body on the line and is proud to wear the shirt. He makes the odd howler but he's hugely endearing.

Vital relegation scrap three points.

foot ball at the arse end of league 2 is pretty shit

Summed him up tonight, lost count how many times he jumped under the ball. Worst Game he’s had by far tonight.

Ward, superb. Confident handling and completely bossed his box and a pen save,albeit a crap spot kick.Kemp brilliant for 70 minutes. Young worked his bollocks off. Brewitt giving 100+% as always,Hutton quality second half. Kinsella consistently good throughout and Shade continuing from Tuesday a real menace but honestly and it hurts to say it but Austin should not be starting games.

Kemp, obviously was his normal above L2 self.
There were some players doing some positive things but honestly, that was laughable.
I know because I was laughing a lot at how bad it was.
Flynn will get his Jan window but Christ he needs a reset.

Much improved second half. Think Shade has been excellent recently and brilliant from Kemp too, two good finishes. Happy for Lewis Ward who has proved very good at saving penalties. Justice at the end, as it was a honking dive that the ref somehow fell for.

Agreed regarding Austin. Sadly just looks a yard off it really. In saying that, think he’s forced to start games at this point as we have no other forward option with RHM ‘injured’

He really was quite dreadful. Being on the left seemed to really affect him.

To put the relegation fears in context, if FGR continue to gain points at their current PPG, they will not catch us even if we don't get a single further point.

In some ways, FGR remind me of the Danny Wilson 10/11 team, in regards to having very good individual players who have had some success at this level or higher, but as a team, are absolutely woeful.

Some buffer but I'd look at it with a worst case of a potential points deduction.

Its lucky only two teams go down in this league.

Yeah, I get that but I'd honestly prefer just one up top

That wasn’t even Minturn was it?
Thought the slightly raised foot was Jake Young

You're quite right. It was Young. Just seen it back.

Fucking ridiculous decision

That was shit. Lucky to get anything from that.

A lot of talking points to dissect from that game and yes it was shit, but in spirit of our squad probably looking completely different in a couple weeks (good or bad), I’m going to choose to just enjoy a win and some last minute drama going our way.

Can’t resist adding a dig at how bad we were defensively though. Ah well, a nice (probably farewell) Kemp double to round out a quite frankly horrible year of Swindon town.

Good beer in Hop Kettle with good pizza albeit very expensive.
Thanks to Audrey for the tickets tonight. Good man, sorry for moaning in your ear all night.
Shit game of football.
Bottled bus home and paid £12 for a taxi.

Ps. Kemp waving at the end was it a sign?

If ever a decision made to try and put right not giving a penalty earlier it was tonight.

Charlie Austin on twitter:

Dan kemp is the best player in the league and proved it once again tonight! Not only is he a top player but as a guy he’s one of the good guys!! Bright future ahead!! Go get em mate

Chow

As for Kemp ... knowing how poor the club is currently, why would you want to stay and risk your career here ?
Also Charlie Austin has become a liability and surely he is aware of this himself. Give it away Charlie.

Just back. Good to meet Sippo and Sippo Junior! Glad the tickets didn’t go to waste.

Both Young and Kemp took their shirts off at the final whistle and gave them to someone in the front of the DRS - bad sign.

First half was shite. Second half was entertainingly shite! Some getting on Minturn’s back but if it wasn’t for him brilliantly bringing the ball out of defence to set up Shade to then set up Kemp for the winning goal we may have lost that.


Shade was very good for the second game in a row. Kemp is just class at this level - 2 diamonds among a turd of a game.

Lost count of the number of times the ball bounced over players’ heads - would have thought with all the rain the pitch would have been spongy.

Officials, again, were well below the required standard. The ref, twice, pulled the game back for free kicks when each side had an advantage. Special mention to the Lino on the Arkells side - missed so many offsides in the first half and one in the second that let Young free on goal.

Ward was very vocal throughout - barking at his defenders.

Flynn needs the boot purely for being unable to fashion a working defence.

Hatswell:
- Didn't look a penalty. Fair play to Ward in making a crucial save (and the save before the penalty)
- Pleased with Ward. He's been working hard behind the scenes
- Pleased for the group. Gives them something to cling on to when things haven't been going our way
- Performance was good. First half we looked to get 2 vs 1 against their full backs
- Kemp can turn a half chance into a goal. Was especially pleased with the second, as it had been worked on in training
- They are a more physical and robust team who are fighting for their lives. They have some good players
- Massive positives
- We were great going forward
- We have to have that bit of confidence to get a result at Crawley
- FGR were brave in leaving 3 up. They have to do that to try to survive
- We knew they would put pressure on our back line. 'We have been teaching them to cope with that all season'
- Kokolo has been ill. Rang in sick the day before yesterday. Didnt want to risk the rest of the group
- Christmas period is a real slog. Four games in 9 games. No chance to rest players.
- Window coming open soon. There are things being talked about behind the scenes
- Crawley and Colchester: Another 2 games in a week. Have to stick together and show fight
- We were due this tonight
- Kemp: When you have a player like that you have to find the pieces around him to make him even better. He is so clever at getting in spaces. He doesn't miss very often and he's the one that can unlock teams. An absolute pleasure working with him. Whether he stays or goes, whatever he does in his career. I will always be grateful for what he does week in, week out because he's a top lad and a top pro.

Reflects my view of the match too. Of course we made errors. There’s zero confidence in the side, but I think some on here are blind to the brighter aspects of what we do now. Understandable after the time we’ve had - but there were positives to take away, most notably Shade’s form. Kemp has been a pleasure to watch but the shirt being given away at the end suggests that may be it. The same for Young.

We needed that. FGR looked desperately poor - more so given the talented players and depth that they have. We could only dream to bring an experienced striker off the bench, and Lavinier (even if Shade skinned him for the winner).

Now, my gripe- I cannot get my head around Flynn’s tactics. None of the midfield 3 were there to take the ball from the defence. It had to be Khan or Kinsella, but the gap between the back 3 and them was huge. I just couldn’t see what the pattern of play was meant to be. But even worse was injury time, when we persisted with Hutton and Shade pushed high and wide. Why are we not dropping into a defensive shape? Flat 5 and hold it. The midfield shield the 5. It’s simple. I’d love to ask Flynn the question because it’s absolutely bonkers. Dealt a bad hand resource wise, but his inability to get the players into a basic defensive shape when it is needed is perplexing for a man that was a holding midfielder, with an assistant that was a centre back.

Aside from that, it was great fun.

My backside was on the bacon slicer for 100 minutes. At the end the ref was just waiting to give FGR a penalty after Dokes had earlier pulled back an FGR player through on goal and he had bottled awarding it it.  A high boot without contact used to be "Dangerous Play" with a  indirect free-kick being awarded. My thought going into the penalty was that Ward saves penalties. Will be amazed if Austin starts against the Creepies, does great defensive work but is off the pace. I sincerely hope that MK Dongs need the dosh and that Clem pulls the padlock of his cheque book.

Made hard work of that, but at least 3 points towards survival.

A much needed win.

The positive crowd will say  - A great win, exciting finish with a last minute penalty save.

The negative bunch will say- Fucks sake we struggled to beat that crap.

Whichever, it’s 3 points and hopefully something to build on at the creepy’s

Three points closer to survival!

Glad with the win, but to struggle to beat that shite is a worry. Be happy to stay in this league.

FGR were certainly going for it, with 3 up front at all times, which made it difficult to play our normal style of football. Both attacking teams got the better of the defenses but it was a very good three points, regardless of how we nearly messed it up.

FGR have a very good squad with strength in depth and should not be struggling, except they don't play well as a team.  That said, they were totally up for the game fighting tooth and nail for every first and second ball.  They battled hard and probably think they were worth at least a point. Wimbledon at home for their next fixture should be a good pointer regarding how good they are. Deany has them playing long ball, he might have miscalculated, although being 2 up at Newport before the sending off, last game, indicates that they carry a threat.  Their forward line on paper looks very good for League Two, with reinforcements to be expected in january.

Hanging on to beat FGR. What a time to be alive!

You can understand why we capitulate so often in the second half of games. Yesterday, first half, they didn’t really have a sniff and neither did we. Second half huge spaces appeared in our ‘defence’ as we pressed more. Just what Flynn’s game plan is I have no idea. This is why I have little confidence things will improve much even with added reinforcements. If any new defenders are expected to play in a similar fashion as our present defenders it’ll make no difference at all. A fundamental change is needed in how we set up.

Both teams clearly out of form confidence but the second half was an entertaining watch. Hopefully this gives us a bit of a boost for the next few games and we start to pick up a bit of form.

Actually I'm not sure that's true in the area. I remember thinking the same when Jerel Ifil was penalised for a high foot (no contact) with a penalty. Looked it up after and the ref was right after all.

in any case it looks to me like young has tried to knee it away and the FGR player has tried a diving header at his knee! Never a penalty but thankfully justice was served.

Ward had given Flynn a headache now.

Just watched the high(!)lights.

They start with Shade shooting straight at the keeper - so assumed the camera man didn’t set up on time and missed the first 14 seconds.

I think it was Nemo who touched upon where people were when we conceded. In particular Brewitt and Minturn not being in the middle - whilst that observation is not wrong - in their defence (although Nemo wasn’t having a dig) they have both stayed with their men who have both peeled out wide right (for them, left for us) Shade the LWB is absolutely no where to be seen. If he is back there (and I can’t remember what came before their goal so it’s conceivable Shade had attacked and they pumped it long and in that case it’s reasonable he wasn’t back in position) then both Minturn & Brewitt don’t need to go out that way.

This comes back to having two ‘better attacking than defending’ wing backs (Shades attacking player has been good the last few games) but also not having a midfielder who will automatically drop back in to the back line when the three CBs get stretched.

Again it’s a bit square pegs round holes if we ever get to a point where everyone is fit then I’d definitely try putting Brewitt/Clayton/FBT in as a holding midfielder to basically just sit infront of the back 3 and drop in when the opposition come forward. Or if both our wings backs go then can drop to make it a flat back 4.

….which evidently is nothing new is it?


Also, I reckon that might just be the worst penalty decision I’ve ever seen. As far as I can tell Young has kicked the ball maybe a foot off the floor and their player is on his knees - so because of that Young’s foot is close to his head!

I know there weren’t huge numbers but there is literally no appeal from the away fans. The FGR players don’t even appeal - they just play on and shoot well over / wide. Utterly bizarre - imagine if they’d scored and that was Young’s last contribution for Town!

No contact should be an indirect free kick as far as I’m aware….

Agree 100% with that analysis of the defence.

The back three get pulled apart as they have to drift wide to cover Hutton/This week's LWB and yet no one from midfield drops in to help. VVD would look like a mug in this team.

I'm trying to think what our most solid possible defence would be....

Maybe switch to a 4-3-3. Something like:


                                                Ward


     Dokes                   Brewitt                Clayton                FBT

             
                                             Kinsella


                               Khan                          Kemp


             Hutton                                                          Shade     

                                             Young         

But if the benefits of having 2 attacking wingbacks are being denied by having a porous defence what’s the point - especially if that more attacking option isn’t leading to scoring goals any more.

Start with getting the defence tight and go from there. I don’t remember his Newport side shipping goals for fun.

Like the look of that - but it’s having everyone fit (obviously) I think from that XI I’d rather is be a bit more 4231 with Khan & Kinsella as the two & Kemp in the middle of the 3 (Hutton, Kemp, Shade) behind Young.


Could also move FBT inside and use Kokolo, Devine or Uwakwe at LB.

Of course take out the injured players and take out the loan players that are going and you’re pretty much back to square one anyway…

The problem is Flynn doesn’t seem to want to change so we are stuck with 3 at the back.

According to the Bradford forum Monday’s game v Crawley is Young’s last amid interest from 2 Championship clubs.

I always hate saying things like this as it comes across as sour grapes but in no way at all will he be a Championship standard player. I really like him but can't see him being anything more than league one

Agreed, but could see a Championship club taking a punt and maybe loaning him out to League One for the rest of the season? He hasn’t played for Bradford (yet) this season, so can still play for another club. Could be worthwhile for a championship club but yeah, I agree, is not yet championship quality

We’re going to need 2 new strikers as Austin is shot.

At his best he probably could do a job in the Championship but even here in L2 - he’s been streaky. He seems to either be scoring for fun or not scoring.

Whether that consistency would come in a better team or whether that inconsistency is just down to his ability - will ultimately dictate where his level is imo.

I think Championship clubs can potentially afford to take punts on young players that are scoring for fun in the bottom league. 500k (for example) isn't a huge outlay. He then gets better coaching and training facilities and within a couple of years you've potentially got a 10 million plus player on your hands. (Ivan Toney and Olly Watkins spring to mind as lower league success stories)

Clearly its not an exact science but I could see why Championship clubs would be interested.

Good to finish the year with a win.
A fun second half.
Played some decent stuff after going ahead then they took control for a while.

Austin stayed further up the pitch which was encouraging.
Wouldn't write him off just yet.
It's either not falling for him, final balls to him have been poor or have ended up on a less able head or foot.
He'll have an important part to play with Young departing.

Possibly Shade's best game for the club, certainly in an attacking sense.
Could he be worth a go in a Kemp type role?

Credit to Ward for waiting and not diving out of the way as a lot of other keepers might have done with the pen.

Poor from the ref throughout & the assistant on the Arkell's side in particular.

It's sad but he isn't the finisher he once was.

Thought the attendance was fantastic, certainly way more than I was expecting.

Even when the game is poor there’s something uplifting when your team wins. Whether it’s being part of a collective. That roar when Ward saved the pen. Priceless!

Agree. Better atmosphere (relatively) to Wrexham too.

“You’re only here for sausage rolls” - Got a few laughs 😂

This is what it's all about for me. "We're shit and we know we are" but it's our shit and something good is always a possibility,however slight

The same quote why Adebayo would never play in the Championship, let alone the Premiership.

If a player has attributes you never know if still some room to improve. In the case of Young he is having to accommodate Austin in the team.
Young is relatively quick and strong and proven he can score.
You never know and will be a massive loss for us as others have said Austin looks done.

Had a close up of Young tangling with their No. 5, Inniss. No contest physically - he was a unit and easily ‘eased’ Young off the ball. Wouldn’t mind him here.

I remember the Ifil incident, which was at home vs. Hartlepool, the argument was that contact was not necessary for a foul.  Indirect free kicks in the penalty area used to be given, but not now except for a deliberate pass back to the goalie.  The penalty in that case was the only goal of the game and was daylight robbery.

I have been calling for this exact system all season TBH, pretty much since August.

Young is nowhere near good enough for the Championship yet, he has some great games but far more poor ones, he is so inconsistant.

FBT is not a left back. Dokes is not a RB.

FBT needs to be CB, Dokes could play CDM?

See, I couldn’t disagree more.
FBT was signed as a left back, and is a good one. He is average at best at CB.

FBT is a left back & I might be over simplifying it but if Dokes can play RCB in a back three - then he can play RB.

It’s not a massive difference…

Dokes can play as a RB in a flat back 4, did regularly for FGR last year. But, he does dislike playing that role and one of the main reasons he signed here was to be the RCB in a back 3.

That is exactly what they are. Dokes a RB and FBT a LB.

A modern day LB/RB can get up and down the pitch. I don't think FBT has the stamina to do that or even has the crossing ability.

Only my opinion of course.

How much up & down they do all depends on how we’ve lined up in front of them.

If we are playing for example a 4231 with two wide attacking midfielders then there is less need for the full backs to get up and down.

I think the problem is all our CB’s are that hybrid type that are better in a 3, and personally I think they would all be better playing with a bigger experienced CB.

Same, Dokes has been a fullback all his career pretty much so far and so has FBT we transfered him to stand in CB and it worked. signed Sokes as a fullback and he played more than half his games for the vegans at RWB.

I think one of FBT and Dokes in a back three is helpful, see someone like Kyle Walker playing in a three for England and City. Playing both is asking for trouble if we're under any major pressure from the opposition.

The same could be argued about any of our defensive formations and players this season TBH mate.

No matter who plays there and in what position we look dreadful under any pressure defensively.

That all piss and panic moment towards the end of the game sums us up perfectly!

Depending on how the window goes I'd be tempted to try Dokes in the holding midfield role.
He's strong, athletic & very good at bringing the ball out of defence.
He's also quick, which would help when giving the ball away & having to get back into a defensive shape.
Would only work if we go four at the back though. Which again, may well depend on the outcome of the window.