Thetownend.com

Probably on my own here, but I really fancy a win here.

Anyone know what stand we're in? Reasonably local for me so heading to this one and paying on the day.

A win isn't likely given our away form (P17 W2) but stranger things have happened.

On the side under the roof.
Don’t think they will need to open the terrace behind the goal.

Ta. Seems odd that the STFC ticket info doesn't mention which stand. Must have been an admin error.

 ;D

I see they are already getting the excuses in early that because of the weather we can’t train on grass and some players can’t train on the 4G I’m guessing because of their injury records.  Just shows what a farce our whole recruitment approach is.

State of the art training facilities would help tho if only Mr Power has got his act together :D

Presume Power still owns that ex golf course in Highworth.

It never gets a mention anymore!

Think you are being overly harsh here, Gunning has said we will be ok after the Mansfield game. What more do you want

Didn't he say that last week that week as well

I noticed he mentioned that everyone can see the style of play - can we other that all out attack, I'm not sure there is a paticular style of play

hes full of shit aint he.

Can see why he suits the organisation perfectly.

:D

Does really rudderless count as a style?

Let's be honest any result in any game on any day in this League is possible. Just as likely to win here as anywhere else

Great news, then we can finally kick on and really push for that 17th spot

Win!

Stockport County 2 Swindon Town 1 att: 9,475 (340 Town)

Are they sponsored by Knorr ;)

 We are unlikely to win. I fear that they will be cookin ' on gas and final score will be 3-0 to stockpot

Be a right stew, we're the dumplings.

Didn’t he ‘gift’ said real estate to a family member?

Any foul and they’ll make a right meal of it.

If we win, then you can be certain it’s nothing more than a flash in the pan.

If we win we turn into Cannibals? Well I never.

Going to miss this one and do something more productive instead.

I’m missing this one plus Tranmere Tuesday. Grandson arriving from Greece this evening for 10 days!

Off to Centrr Parcs

You rich bastard!

I will be watching but out of some wierd form of duty and not expecting anything.

Stockport looked one of the best sides we have played this season when we got beat by them earlier at home.

I see no win, but as a few have said every team has the capability of beating every other team in this league, there are no real stand out sides that we have faced.

Have nice warm fuzzy feeling whilst you are there.....Swindon Maniac helped build Center Parcs at Longleat!

Is my luck in?

Current predictions on the predictions league for tomorrow's match, my 3-0 defeat isn't too bad compared to some of the predictions.

2-0    Percentage 14.2% [2]
4-1    Percentage 14.2% [2]
3-1    Percentage 14.2% [2]
3-0    Percentage 14.2% [2]
5-0    Percentage 7.1% [1]
10-0    Percentage 7.1% [1]
8-0    Percentage 7.1% [1]
4-2    Percentage 7.1% [1]
1-0    Percentage 7.1% [1]
2-1    Percentage 7.1% [1]

Is that literally everyone predicting a loss? That must be a first. My 1-0 loss is the most confident of anyone!

Not me

Stockport 2 Swindon 4

I think this could be the benchmark week as far as waking the fans up to where in reality we are.  A heavy loss at Stockport and a heavy loss at home to tranmere and I think the consenting masses might start to grumble.

Stockport 4 - 0 Swindon
Swindon 1 - 3 Tranmere

I can't see us getting anything from this. I have a free Saturday and I'm not going which is a rarity these days.

3-0 Stockport

.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JFtjQoBHN5o

Can’t really see beyond a thumping, however they are likely to expect an easy game so there is a small chance we may benefit from their complacency. Was thinking about going a few weeks ago if the results picked up under Gunning but will listen instead. My interest has been waning recently which is unusual and as a self confessed enthusiast and super fan this doesn’t bode well for the fan base at large and season ticket renewals.

Look, it is what it is. So.....That's football. Obviously. But yeah. Erm. You can't do anything. Listen, as I said before, its frustrating. If I'm honest, its unfortunate. It's just where we're at. Yeah, definitely. The processes are there. But if you don't commit fully to the game plan and make silly mistakes, yeah, so, obviously, erm, that's football!

You're hired!

Gunning’s Positive vibes seem to have gone

He’s about as good at interviews as he is at substitutions then

He’s a fucking idiot, isn’t he? So unlikeable.

He could try and look a little interested :D

Agreed but nothing ever seems that blank and white in the world of STFC. Suspect we'll somehow get a result against one of them, even though the logical conclusion is 2 defeats

Pre match United's shit, City's worse, we always put County first in The Calverts Court.
Indeed.

The bracing walk to the station this morning accompanied by the dawn chorus & the light of a silvery full moon could well be the highlight of the day.

Only the 3rd visit here.
Not surprising given that our hosts were avoidably detained in non league for a while.
Relegations are always avoidable, promotions require a large amount of blood, sweat & tears.

My nod to the miasma of waning enthusiasm was not sorting the trains out to get here 25mins earlier as would have been the case last season if I remember.

Will give The Cracked Actor Bar a go later.
Sounds like a place that Bamboo would frequent.
Then hopefully a crack at some Robinson's ales.
Let's face it the only Euphoria today is likely to come from a pint of the same name.

Stopfordians are lucky in that they have some WW2 air raid shelter tunnels that will be good to go when Mad Vlad pays a visit or Trump if we don't keep up with the NATO subscription.

Read that County had some injuries but their last couple of lineups looked decent enough.
Can't see their winless run extending to 4 games today.
Our front 3 or 4 can cause them a problem or two it's the rest of the collective that might not have the wherewithal to cope for 90+ minutes.

Anyway, it's Saturday, the sun is out & there is football & beer, although the latter won't help in the ongoing dismal efforts to distinguish between our no's 32 & 23.
That's all, but could return to the pub if I can't find Gate F later.

Plans gone to shit this Morning.
No lift to the station thus had to drive myself.

On the train now and as always questioning why I bother.
Will have a few then have to stop.

Easy direct trip today - been up at the crack of dawn, frost and a long dog walk.

See you later. ⚽️

As much charm offensive as Anthony Hall.
The bloke is a complete wanker when it comes to interviews.

Can only dream of the day when all this lot fuck off for good.

Problem is, they’ll probably take the club with them.

Probably a match I should be going to, given the proximity but could not garner {no pun} the gumption to go. Stockport County is one of my faves and haven't been there for...well probably the last time they were in the league.

If today is a day to wear an orange hat, then at ''The Hatters'' is probably the cheapest shot at doing so

Fair fuckity fucks for those going today, I hope you have some enjoyment in the ground as well as at the Cracked Actor. Indeed, it is a decent place to whet the weary whistle.

Notice that the rainbow ball is being used for the first time at Stockport today. There is unlikely to be any sign of Zippy, Bungle and George - that is unless Hall, Austin and Hart are ''Matchday Guests'' of course  ::)

Fair play to Wobbly Bob, The Duke and all others who continue to support the Town travelling endless miles in all weathers and spending an absolute fortune in doing so.
Used to do the same many years ago but just can’t muster the enthusiasm these days, even with a ST I find it difficult to be bothered to go, and that’s just the home games.
Hope your support will eventually be rewarded and you finally see an unexpected away win.  (This season or next),  Admire you boys enormously,  safe journey and enjoy the beers as I don’t think there will be a lot else to cheer about

Absolutely this.

Same as, good post :clap:

I’ve certainly traveled with zero expectation from today. Best hope is that it’s not an embarrassing shambles again. I’m fully expecting that the pre-match burger and Robinson’s will be the most enjoyable part of the day.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GHGz7FBXsAA0e-z?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

Wheres Khan and UGM?

Khan is suspended isnt he?

Great, an injury to the one right back at the club. Good luck Mino.

That looks a complete mess to me.

Khan suspended, UGM injured, presumably.

So how does that line up? 3 at back? Or Kokolo or FBT at RB?

Genesini is history by the look of this.

He must be a bad trainer as when he has played at RB he has looked good enough.

Genesini he has as much chance of playing at right back for the first team as I do. Genuinely think we'd pick the U18 RB ahead of him, he's just not played any games as we don't do reserve fixtures.

Must be a 3 at the back,surely? Key players missing for them. Another 5-5 anyone?

Let’s hope McCarthy can talk Minturn through the game or it’s going to be a long afternoon. Assume Elbouzedi will be an emergency wing back?

Yet they can bring back the highest paid player in L2 Nick Powell on an alleged £10k per week.

Eeek

I am guessing we will line up like this.

                Bycroft
        Minturn McCarthy FBT
Elboozy   McEachran   Cain   Kokolo
                 Devoy
            Glatzel  Austin

Matching Stockports 3-5-2

Pissed off that I’m here and going to watch this! Likely to make me even more grumpy!

Would not be surprised to see 433 with Minturn at RB either.

And push Kokolo out wide left? that is possible. I think we will try and match Stockports 352 though go man for man.

Minturn
McCarthy
FBT
Kokolo

Devoy
Cain
McEachran

Elbouzedi
Austin
Glatzel

McEachran and Cain in the middle of the park ... That is piss weak lightweight. McEachran was nothing but a wafty fart last week in terms of off the ball play

Yes dont know what my mind was thinking TBH!

I would rather 4 at the back than 5 TBH.

Yeah been the same all season.
The one position we haven’t addressed either

I think I said much the same last week, but whilst McEachran has never been a physical presence, he did a fair bit of waspish harrying and pressure last season. Not so much this year, although I think he's been pretty good linking up counter attacks the last few weeks.

He does flatter to decieve so much, runs around a lot, gets close to the ball and doesnt actually do much when he has it.

Took his goal very well a couple of weeks back though.

I wish he wouldnt keep blind jumping into players when he is trying to head the ball, that will cost us as he always does it close to our box and gives away free kicks.

In a side with a couple of midfield enforcers he could well be the play maker, currently though he is not that for us.

Huge issue I know, but why is their tunnel so small? It looks like people emerging from a bomb shelter, blinking in the light they haven't seen for years.

I've opened a drink. This could be a long two hours.


Yeah I agree. I don't actually think any of our midfielders are that bad, we just sign nothing but small technical midfielders and then wonder why they don't work in combination.

A good tactic I feel, I am currently on coffee but that could quickly change.

Also, terrible at taking corners 🤷🏼‍♂️

Indeed, too many are too similar.

Looks like a back four with Minturn on the right

Nice counter by Town from Glatzel to Austin to Kokolo.

It does indeed.

As Smithy just said there are huge gaps between the 2/3 (not the fastest) CB's for them, a bit of pace could exploit those gaps.

Anyone know how the Acadamy team did today against Argyle?

4-4 conceding a 98th minute penalty.

Stockport like a long high ball.

Thanks, just read the other thread :-(

McCarthy lovely pass to Elboozy but his cross is behind everyone.

Town win a corner.

Elboozy has a shot deflected for another corner.

Cain shot blocked 6 yards out.

Comedian Tom Allen skys a shot over the bar from 35 yards, awful shot.

Nooooo!

Elbouz misses a golden chance.

Stockport look complacent.

Metalwork!!!

Elboozy hits the post after a shot by Kokolo, poor miss, got away with that after an awful pass by Devoy got defelcted to Kokolo.

Good recovery block by FBT

Save by Bycroft and got away with leaving the striker almost unmarked on goal, FBT made a late challenge on him.

Town pressing them quite well so far.

Quite firmly in Charlie's case there.

Devoy is absolute dog shit

Fell asleep - miss owt?

Kokolo makes a block in the 6 yard box as the ball comes in, corner to them.

Unfortunately I agree.

Bycroft gets lucky with a deflection straight at him.

Ball falls for Cain on his wrong foot as he takes 2 slices at it.

McCarthy knocks the ball out for a corner when he probably could have left it alone.

Glatzel is pressing and chasing everything today, just needs a break to make one of the challenges count.

I don't think I remember a team top of the table with a crowd that sound so nervous.

Decent save Bycroft.

Bycroft with a good low save after a mistake by Minturn.

I think that has a lot to do with them getting just 1 win in the last 4 games.

Austin gives away a corner to them.

Minturn gets away with a strong push in our box.

Low interception by Bycroft from a cross.

It's completely understandable, but Minturn really is all over the place positionally. He's just tackled Conor McCarthy!

FBT fucks up in the middle but we win the ball back, bad mistake by FBT.

Hes not having a great game so far unfortunately.

1 min added time.

HT 0-0

Not too bad so far.

Half time. We're not being outclassed at all - Stockport look brittle and their fans are really, really on edge - if we could get a goal I think they both might go to pieces. That said, there's still a lot of talent there and if you had to pick a more likely winner it's probably narrowly them.

We look decent on the counter and a bit scary at the back, but not really created any major chances beyond Elbouzy's post whacking.

Half time,half decent

Wish I hadn’t fallen asleep for Elbouzadi’s shot.

Thought we were trying hard to close down and keep our shape.

No one stood out for me that half.

Love a bit of Markus but Jonathan Smith is excellent on the Co-Comms.  Knows his L2 football, for sure.

Decent half.

We’ve had a few chances. They’ve had more. Stockport have probably just edged it.

If I were the Stockport gaffer I’d be telling my team to let Swindon score early on in the second half. Nothing like taking the lead to turn us into deep sitting, quivering, nervous wrecks that’s can’t do anything & are there for the taking

:clap:

Stockport fans very restless with a few boo’s when the HT whistle went. They’ve shown slightly more quality than us, but fairly even for the most part. Would like to see McGurk and McKirdy on fairly soon

I know what you mean, but I think if we score first this crowd are turning big time.

Perhaps but we aren’t playing the crowd.

What’s the likelihood that Gav can’t stop himself tinkering at HT & we come out and concede a quick goal or two?

Well I for one wouldn't mind Drinan on. SCFC defence looking as if they might be susceptable to a bit of physicality

Stockport bring on 2 subs.

Ooh,edit. They've changed their back 4!

He’ll make 3 changes on 65 minutes.
We’ll go 1-0 up around the 75 mark.
Maybe a couple more subs
Concede twice in the last 5 and lose 2-1

Just me or is Cain now playing the furthest forward midfielder with Devoy deeper?

Good save by Bycroft.

Great save Bycroft from very close range

They're getting on top I think

Aguiar on for McEachran.

Blimey. That's a surprise

Stockport commentators clearly researched the wrong McEacheran brother…

Oh dear! Shame as I though McEachran has done the dirty work well today.

McEachran had a knock, it wasn't tactical.

We are struggling now.

Great low save by Bycroft.

Yes, still a shame he had to go off

Stockport have found the gear stick and are going through them.

He’ll probably score the winner now but Gunning’s subs are just weird. Players he hasn’t involved for weeks, not even always a sub suddenly subbed on at a key point. There really doesn’t seem to be any actual method to anything we are doing.

Bycroft having a stormer

Wasnt it!

Brewitt and Drinan coming on.

Cain off Brewitt on.

Brewitt for Cain... formation change time or Brewitt CDM?

Drinan for Elbouz.

This feels shape changey but not quite sure.

Elboozy off for Drinan.

Surely Austin should make way for Drinan

5-2-3?

Bycroft with another save.

Going to take an interesting 25 minutes of football to stop Bycroft being a runaway MotM here.

We need pace from Harry for Charlie now I would think.

Classic no midfield line up again….

We are so light on midfielders.

Good pressing by Glatzel to win a throw.

I wish we would stop fucking aimlessly hoofing it up to Austin.

It's okay Kinsella wasn't going to play

Indeed. But the clown in the dugout doesn’t seem to believe in playing midfielders either.

Aguiar and Devoy in central midfield makes Cain and McEachran look positively combative!

If only we had an experienced midfielder to come off the bench, like that Kinsella chap at Cheltenham

 Get McKirdy on please! With Elboozy off we've not got any pace at all

Harry or McGurk.

Minturn been much better this half, credit to him.

He has but I have learnt my lesson to not praise a player before the game is over, especially a keeper or defender ;)

Yes, if I did that we might regularly shit ourselves late in the second half... ah.

Drinan lovely shot saved by the keeper.

So nearly a beautiful sucker punch from Drinan.

Harry on for Glatzel.

Awful miss by them point blank header.

457 Town fans

Good claim by Bycroft again.

Proper 100MPH football this half now.

I’m struggling to comprehend how it is 0-0

Poor finishing and good keeping.

Easy save by Bycroft from the direct FK.

Drinan wins a corner.

Amused by Powell just throwing the ball at Kokolo.

Still not been impressed much by Devoy today.

Shit. Boards gone up. Always a bad sign!

6 mins added.

Poor challenge by Kokolo. Yellow.

Christ that was a bad tackle by Kokolo.

Corner them

Phew

Header wide luckily.

FT 0-0

Decent defensively, Bycroft MotM.

Great result, spirited performance, but we were very lucky with an excellent goalkeeping performance and some shocking finishing from them. They could and should have won comfortably, but they didn't and, in isolation, it's great to get a point off the league leaders away from home: just doesn't feel like we've turned a corner exactly.

Prediction league in shambles.

A point closer to survival

I think we all got the Swindon Town nil bit!

Take the point.  Just trying survive this season. 

That's a workmanlike performance. Sheer guts and determination. Bycroft outstanding,Minturn great 2nd half. FBT proper captain's game. Drinan decent

Got to be happy with a point away at the league leaders, whether it's deserved or not.

Good job Scillyred didn’t guess the 10-0 defeat correctly :D

Didn’t expect that. Stockport struggling. But well done Bycroft!

Solid if unspectacular

If it was a boxing match Stockport would have won on points but despite having more of the game than us - I don’t think they were good enough to have deserved the win. Obviously we didn’t do enough to win either…

I know a lot of people are not high on Gav but it’s been a lot more spirited & energetic under Gav which makes it an upgrade from Flynn for me.

Good point.

George Moncur looks to have got the winner at Pox  :toocool:

Massive improvement in attitude and commitment under Gav, definitely

He still gets 1 more point than me!

No beats dropped today.
I wonder why

Are you sure🤔

Fair points but I don't think a good keeper performance is necessarily lucky

There was some poor finishing by County.  And Bycroft was MOM.  And if we had a bit of luck, I still think we showed a mixture of good shape and guts and I compliment Gav on his subs.  Let's also give the lads the credit they deserve for, imo, the point that they deserved.

Richie Wellens still showing his love for STFC :pint:

He still wouldn’t be in a job at any other league club though and shouldn’t be in the frame here, but yesh better than the extremely low bar of Flynn’s end of days.

Bigger picture, if we don’t win on Tuesday it’ll be March and only one win in 2024 for us….

FGR won and Sutton drew too, the gap to relegation is getting closer. 5 sides in the bottom 6 picked up points today.

We've gone from being 2/10 to being 5/10. It's much improved but it's a long way short of where we need to be.

Well yeah, no shit
…but…surely no one was expecting it to go from 2/10 to 8/10 over night

..and if we do win,what's the bigger picture then?

Who do you want in charge next season?

Gunning:
- Great performance. Solid behind the ball
- A clean sheet is fantastic for the team
- Condensed space.
- Stockport and MK best squads in the league
- Yeah, no, great point
- Come to league leaders and keep clean sheet. Have to be proud
- Had to change shape cos of change of personel
- Why Minturn rather than Genesini?: Because I'm the coach and I decided to do it! (I'm not being confrontational) If you were coach you'd have gone with Genesini? (Not necessarily) Minturn is a right  sided CB who has played in a 3 and is suited to RB. Physical presence, moves quickly.
- Minturn has been unfortunate as we've switched the shape
- Dokes: Stiffness. Played a lot of minutes. Hopefully back Tuesday.
- Hopefully everyone up to scratch minutes wise next Saturday
- We will start getting very positive results soon. I'm confident of that

A qualified coach is a good start and not just the journeyman manager type either. Nothing about Gunning either as a manager or personality wise says he is remotely the right person. This club needs a fresh start and fresh ideas on and off the pitch.

So, who then?
Who would you like to see in charge next season?

Quite like Mark Bonner I think, doesn't feel too unlikely, experience getting out of the division, currently unemployed. Someone of that sort of profile. But as we said when Flynn left, it's not just - or even primarily - about the manager at the moment.

No idea, I don’t have access to the inner circles of a football to do a detailed character fit but there must be better around than fucking Gunning. Maybe I’m ‘deluded’ but I still maintain ambition of being better than 18th in League 2 which is where we are both over the course of the season and in the form table over the 6 games under Gunning.

 they had all the ingredients but we managed to keep them off the boil .good point in the end

If you don’t know who you’d like as manager - just say that.
I’ve asked twice and all you’ve done is run down Gav and say why you don’t want him.
Great, that’s your opinion but that’s not what I asked.

Ok let’s measure him against his own declared target of the playoffs at the fans forum then. We’re nowhere near that so overall he is failing, that’s not running him down that’s just a fact.

Was hoping for an injury time winner!

You’re right I didn’t realise he would get a point because we didn’t concede🤣

A good point against a one of the better teams in the league.

…all of which still has nothing to do with who you’d like to see as manager next season.

 I see that gary johnson is free . let's get him in asap

Delighted with the point & clean sheet.
Good team effort.

Overall, Gunning doing ok so far & that's not an endorsement for him getting the job for next season.

I don't know who I'd want and don't want Gav, if that helps.

We’re worse than we have ever been. That’s a fact, based on League 2 PPG. We have convicted criminals running the club.

I cannot fathom the lack of discontent amongst the supporter base.

Good point secured today through hard work, effort and Bycroft performing well.

But surely, have we now become conditioned to be pleased to see STFC draw 0-0 to a fourth division side and only have 30 % of the ball.

As for a manager Gunning has created a more solid looking team.

My question is simple. Why didn't Flynn with all his experience do this... he simply needed two extra players at the start of the season and we would have been in the playoffs as a minimum.

Morris came close to spilling the beans... surely Flynn needs to be tapped up and asked what happened.

Without being persistently glum the problems are far from being identified.

.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BqdFK1kveP0

Its tiring.

I didn't even check the score until it was over today. I only check this site hoping to hear some shred of rumour of new owners or something to cling to. I'm truly done.

It is telling that we are talking about a guy with a win rate of 1 in 6 getting the job full time.

Whole club is amateurish top to bottom.

Our only hope is a sale or I think it is National league within a couple of years sadly- worse is our fans will only wake up when it’s too late

Can't disagree with any of that...

Why does it matter who takes over? We could have Klopp at the helm but if he doesn’t get the support of the owner he’d fail just like the rest of them have.

We had a good model with Garner and Chorley, almost got promoted and Clem decided that was not the right way to proceed. Why? We’ll probably never know for sure.

This

The fact a lot of them are still asleep shows you how bad it is. I look forward to posts reminding me people aren't stupid they just have a differing view and that they're entitled to it, blah blah blah, bullshit bullshit bullshit.

Ah, so no one is allowed a different view to you?

Do I think he should get the job full time, not at the moment (and I can't see it improving either) but I see zero point in getting some one else in until after this season is done.

Yet you post non stop... yep that tells me you are 'truly done'

Like clockwork.

Getting to page 16 until the first post is posting non stop, is it?

Interesting take.

5 posts today (before your responses) says you are 'done'

….because I wondered who people might want to take over.
So I asked.
Not rocket science is it?

We are also a 4 th division side and have been for a few years now . that is the reality of our situation

I have heard his name linked a few times by people who know Jamie Russell, its blatant that Gunning is out of his depth tactically and is merely a stop gap until the end of the season.

For me Gunning has all the charm of a wet lettuce and the tactical guile of Blackadder.

We need someone with a bit of a track record in L1/L2 and who will engage with fans rather than just belittle them and complain about things.

Obviously whoever it is will have their hands tied by those from above so he MUST be a good tactitian and able to the best out a rag tag band of modestly talented but mostly ambivalent and often lazy players who themselves seem to lack leadership on the pitch possibly due to the lack of experience in the side.

Do I think Mark Bonner is that?

TBH I know little of him or his style but he worked wonders in a couple of seasons at overperforming Cambridge United.

But, then again, so did Flynn at Newport before joing when he was hamstrung by an unwilling owner to get the players in that he needed and wanted.

we are where we deserved to be. Reap what you sow.

But they doesn't mean you can't demand better. Acceptable just adds to mediocrity

The last couple of pages is a microism of the fans at the moment and illistrates perfectly where we are as a fanbase.  Very much like the world as a whole at the moment.there is still a significant split of opinion with polar opposite views and very little inbetween and that turns into infighting between ourselves, it's going to take a significant event to bring us together and unfortunately that event is likely to be relegation to the NL, which will mean it will all be too late by then.

The summer break is going to even more aggy than usual on here..

It’s not just us I see Bristol City fans are split with many wanting Liam Manning replaced already.

I think most of us fans (bar DV) would snap your hands off for a chance of a Liam Manning being manager at our club

If only for how much piss it would boil up the A420!

Spot on, he done an excellent job at pox and no coincidence that their form has been in different since he left.

Not as much of a change as Notts County since Williams left for Swansea...and for that matter Swansea's form too.

Most teams that have changed manager mid season have suffered.

Swindon under Gunning 1 win from 6 with 2 defeats.
County under Maynard 1 win from 6 with 4 defeats.
Grimsby under Artell 2 wins from 15 with 7 defeats.
Swans under Williams 3 wins from 10 with 6 defeats.
Col U under Cowley 1 win from 6 with 1 defeats.

By comparison.
Pox under Buckingham 7 wins from 23 games with 9 defeats.
Shitty under Manning 7 wins from 23 with 8 defeats.

Good comparisons and must have missed Artell going to Grimsby.

There is definitely sides; the problem is - no matter what side your on you can’t do anything.
There are those that are vehemently anti Clem but what can they do about it? They can’t force him out. They can’t buy the club. At best they can wear orange hats and chant a few things at a game of football. Again, a start but ultimately does nothing to force Clem’s hand and most who are vehemently anti Clem are probably going down the ‘won’t give him another penny’ route so at best they are spouting their feelings on the internet. Again achieved absolutely nothing.

Those that are behind Clem have accepted that’s lower mid table in L2 is the new norm. They accept everything Clem says at face value. A few bad words on the internet aren’t going to change their mind. I’m not even sure what will.

Then you have the third group who are just a bit meh. Maybe they are fine with the situation and maybe they aren’t but what can they possibly do? How do we force change?


What we really need to kick this up a notch is a viable alternative. We need someone to come out publicly and say they want to buy the club, why they want to buy the club, how they are going to finance the club & what the plans are. Something that anti Clem brigade can get behind. Something that might spur some of the meh crowd to do something & pick a side. Hell, it might even wake up a few Clem supports to realise this doesn’t have to be the norm.

It’s probably going to get worse before it gets better but the fanbase needs something.

I know not everything ends up in the public domain but I personally don’t believe there is a queue of people wanting to buy the club - so how do we facilitate change at the top where there isn’t an alternative

Early January.


I added Cowley too to that list.

Yeah, no ex-scummers please….

If it takes an ex-scummer to take us back to actually looking like a capable football team/club and providing some capable coaching/recruitment experience then i am all for it.  You do somewhat contradict yourself with some of your views IMO (and i get that in most cases you are looking for a reaction). A repeated message is that it's all about winning games, and if we are winning games then the rest is less important, if an ex scummer helps us to win games then why not.  You have happily laid into managers and players calling them frauds, stat paddlers and the like but accuse others of going in on Gunning even though his record is not really any better than those that you openly slam, i get that you are Gunnings cheerleader, but surely we are better than a jobbing lower league player/coach with zero experience and with no credible backroom support? 

The Gunning love in was all tongue in cheek because his record in his previous two (extremely short) spells looked great statistically.

I’m neither for or against Gunning.

I prefer him to Flynn, Morris & Lindsey.
I think that his teams looks marginally more solid, robust & organised. I think the tempo, energy & effort are all up - it’s an improvement imo.

…enough to get him the job? Probably not - hence why I was asking people about who they actually want.

We went down the experienced route with Flynn & it didn’t work. We went down the new young coach with good pedigree in coaching roles with Morris & it didn’t work. Where else is there for us to go? Which do we try again next?


….i also think it’s Gav’s job to lose just because that’s how the club is currently. Is he the best man for the job? Don’t think so. Is he the worst man for your job? Also don’t think so…

Done with the club yes, until Clem leaves or a phoenix starts. Back to my Lee Power position post the Bristol Rovers abandonment debacle which was my final straw there. Pretty sure I said I log in here for off the pitch matters more now. I can explain it again, if you'd like.

if we are talking stats, gunning is 1 point a game 😛

yeah, too early to judge after only 6: games.

That we will probably appoint him says all we need to hear about the setup of the club. Let's then hope we get lucky with him.

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWOpgWgoH-E

…are we ignoring his another spells?

It’s 13 points from 9 games over all.

The problem is, as has been said, is it doesn't matter what manager you put in there if he doesn't get backed.  Lindsey, didn't get backed, Morris, didn't get backed, Flynn started getting backed and then that backing soon disintergrated as the season progressed, and then Gunning (according to the man himself) has been backed and got to bring in the players he wanted, although my own view is that he hasn't been backed and we have just brought in bodies that we were able to get in on the cheap.

I have said before, I think this interim appointment is all with a view of appointing Austin in the summer, but ultimetely you could put Klopp and Pep in charge and it wouldn't change a thing unless they bring in qualified football staff and invest on the pitch.

Everything this club does at the moment stinks of a relegation battle next season, and asking people to name a manager they would want is nonsensicle because it is pretty much irrelevant in the clubs current shape and form.

yeah I am because I'm comparing this season  - Gunning's better squad with Flynn's worse squad.

it should be that Gunning's improves as fitness improves.

He has the problem of 12 dead rubbers to motivate them through though

That's not quite 'truly done' though is it. I get the sense you like the dramatic.

Not truly done, that's probably why it has the "until" clause. Just a thought

I can't see the 'until' clause? I just find it strange that some one who is 'truly done', is so interested in everything.

Now I can understand people having less interest, everyone is different but to be calling out fans as he does and then be so dramatic that he is 'truly done', yet still posting so much.

"until Clem leaves or a phoenix starts" it's in the quote.

it's pretty difficult to totally walk away isn't it.. Probably a good thing because we'll need them back.

I watch on ifollow despite having a season ticket, withdraw sponsorship and other things. I would say i am done but because i watch the game and post about it on here does that mean i am not?

I sat on that performance for a day before posting - at the time I thought it was shit, that we were generally a poor team but we battled for a point and the result was good.  Posting such things after the result would likely irritate people who would rightly point at the clean sheet and getting a point away from home at a good team.

Overall, we really are a pretty poor team - squad wise.  I'd not lose any sleep if our entire midfield was replaced in the summer (hell, it may actually happen given this club right now).  The forward players, despite trumpets being blown for them when signing, all seem a bit naff as well, now I've seen them for a few games.  What we have, unsurprisingly, is a team that looks every bit it's league position.

On Gunning, I have a nagging feeling that performances will get worse over time with him.  I just don't see how you can hope to sustain any sort of form when you just chuck four random players up top and leave a couple of lightweights to be your midfield.  There must have been a 20 minute period in the second half where Devoy's name wasn't even used by Hawes.

But, it was a good point.

Truly done with Clems Swindon Town Football Club.

Does that help or do you still need further clarification?

It's clearly not.

It was a very good point, away from home from the team who were top of the league. 

However, the performance wasn't great and I'm not sure the tactics we are currently trying to employ are working and that is Gav's remit.  The new players aren't fully match fit, so it might improve?

probably also worth pointing out Stockport have the same number of points as we do over the last 6, and a worse GD.

But we've been truly pathetic results wise away, so I agree it was a good result.

The slightly strange thing about Gunning's general lack of interest in midfielders is that he was a centre back. You'd really expect him to value having a covering DM but he seems quite happy to leave any old nonsense in the middle of the park.

FWIW I am, and never will be done with the club.

I am 99.9% fed up with the club currently and its whole ownership and management but I still give a shit and still watch games and if I lived closer would still either get a season ticket or attend the majority of games.

But I hate the thought of us stagnating near the bottom of the table (or worse) and putting money into the club just to see it be pissed up against a wall by an owner(s) who seems to think that we just need to be safe from relegation rather than pressing for promotion.

League 2 survival alone should not be the goal.

If Clem cannot afford to make us a promotion viable team then he needs to pass the ball to someone that can provide us with that aim.

Also get in people that know football, a CEO/DoF/Manager/Coaching team that can improve us on the pitch, or at least make us appear a more professional outfit.

I will never be truly "done with this club", I can't as its like disowning a parent or child, but this is as close as I have ever been to that.

Thanks for your time and effort Clem but please for the sake of the club and its many thousands of fans please for Gods sake put us up for sale now and see if there are some interested parties and be open about things.

That is all.

This :clap:

Haven't really read back as didn't see any of the game on Saturday, but someone on our Whatsapp group sent a picture of Zav Austin in the director's box and I know it's been done a lot, but what actual tangible/intangible benefits to the club does Zav Austin serve? Yes I know Clem has said he was a big contributory factor in getting Power out allegedly and he's a 'mate' of Clems, but I just wonder if it's ever been stated what he ACTUALLY does for the club on a day to day basis?

Well we rode our luck and got a point none of us expected.

We hit a post and a great blocking save at the end, they missed some sitters and saw our keeper play out of his skin.

Plodding on...chip, chip, chip, away at the 50 point line and the Beamish zone of misery.

However....well done lads!

Big match tomorrow night v Tranmere.

I still believe it was him that told Clem what Power was up to which allowed Clem to get the club on the cheap, so he obviously knows a lot of the dodgy deals that have been done behind the scenes.

So either Clem feels indebted to him or Zav has the evidence that would screw Clem.

I think it’s a mixture of both in fairness.

Agreed.

Could it be some of the money Morfuni says he has injected is actually Zav Austin’s? I’ve long thought Morfuni has in effect been a funnel rather than having £7m lying around to put into the club.

Zav Austin? He doesn't do anything day to day, honest. He's simply a matchday guest who sometimes uses STFC's name to coach players in Pakistan at a club that is definitely not made up and doesn't even have anything to do with STFC, even the name.

Zav does fuck all. He's here for the visa scheme in Karachi that the club doesn't pay a penny towards even though the government have confirmed they do for the first two years.

Lies.