Thetownend.com

Let's be honest. If any of our previous 5/6 managers were doing the things that the Cowleys have been doing this season, most of us would want them gone. Rubbish tactics, rubbish performances, rubbish results.

Utterly abysmal. Worst I have seen in 62 years. No idea how to fix something so broken

I feel sorry for Robbie because he has backed them financially but he must have his finger close to the trigger now, their overall results have been very poor.

Gobshite con artists. Clapping the fans hasn’t worked, and now they’re fresh out of ideas.
Bet they wished they had takes the Bradford offer now. They had a poor stock before they came here, and now they’ll be get another football league job again

So how long do we give the Cowleys?
The recruitment has been disastrous and the players in the squad don’t really seem to suit the way they want to play.
Reading between the lines I’m sure they weren’t happy about having so many players sold in the summer but that’s league 2 for you.
Not sure there is anyone better available at the moment.

Baffled by our performance. There was just nothing to be excited by at all. It was like we weren’t even trying to get an equaliser, where is the passion?!

What an absolute shambles. The ball boys showed more urgency than the players. I know Anderson scored but let’s face it. He couldn’t really miss the open goal after missing it first time around. He has no pace whatsoever and for an alleged winger he can’t even cross it away from the goalkeeper. We will get relegated this season because our players and our management team are not good enough.

It wasn't great and another game shoehorning our best player into a position he will have no effect in.
Let's be honest with ourselves if the Cowley's can't get us out of the mire who can?
We've had more managers than hot dinners recently so I definitely don't want them to get sacked.

Trouble is the Cowleys style brings on half the problems. We sit back and let teams have 70% of the ball, and every attack we do have is hopeful and desperate, we don’t build anything or look like a unit.

The Cowleys have said their teams are front foot, forward thinking, aggressive and like to retain and keep the ball high up the pitch…..yet on the pitch we see the exact opposite. Since Walsall, team has been set up very withdrawn, set up to hang on for the first 60 minutes and then play a bit for the last 30. It does feel like what the Cowleys say and what they actually do are different things at times.

The Cowleys arrived with the reputation of being top level coaches that could coax a performance out of any player and improve any squad beyond their limitations.
We are miles from that at the moment. Miles.

We can't sack the Cowleys. They need time to be able to reflect on their initial ideas and signings, to see that they aren't working

I’m returning + 2 for this. Felt a bit guilty not going yesterday seeing as Kennedy really gripped my shit and he’d gone.

Like more than a few, this mob have achieved something I didn’t think was possible . . . they’ve killed my interest/care in the club I’ve supported through all the previous shit times over the last 50+ years.

Bastards.

I’m returning + 2 for this. Felt a bit guilty not going yesterday seeing as Kennedy really gripped my shit and he’d gone.

Like more than a few, this mob have achieved something I didn’t think was possible . . . they’ve killed my interest/care in the club I’ve supported through all the previous shit times over the last 50+ years.

Bastards.

I know how you feel.
I certainly have lost that spark. Can only hope new ownership brings it all back.
This lot not a chance.

But I'm just tired of it now. Tired of being shit. It's not just Clem, it's years of mismanagement.

But I'm just tired of it now. Tired of being shit. It's not just Clem, it's years of mismanagement.

The difference between past crap ownership and current crap ownership is social media, podcasts etc so every ‘misstep’ is turned into a meme etc.

You're going to wait and see how it goes? Really?

This is me too.

Killed the buzz in me.

I am selling up soon and i am decorating the whole house (trade Magnolia over trade Magnolia), so i reckon i might give it a miss. Maybe the radio or maybe on the Telly.

I hope we progress (that would be nice) and i hope that Holloway uses the two free Cup hits to get his shit together for Franchise away...thats the Be all and End all this season...League points.

This is me too.

Killed the buzz in me.

I am selling up soon and i am decorating the whole house (trade Magnolia over trade Magnolia), so i reckon i might give it a miss. Maybe the radio or maybe on the Telly.

I hope we progress (that would be nice) and i hope that Holloway uses the two free Cup hits to get his shit together for Franchise away...thats the Be all and End all this season...League points.

Over 65 years support from me and 35 years from my son sailing down the river

Understand how you feel, we are exactly the same plus a 280 mile round trip for a home game meant that we did not renew our season tickets, the fact that we didn't receive any communication from the club regarding renewals did not help or the fact that my communication to the club regarding the possibility of purchasing a season long car park pass as I can no longer walk very far did not even elicit a acknowledgment let alone a reply.  Over 65 years support from me and 35 years from my son sailing down the river

probably end up winning this 3-0 . There will be wild celebrations from the 4,250 home supporters.

I'd somehow forgotten they had Jack Payne. That's made me sad.

Don’t think I follow have the rights to this one? Anyone know where it might be shown?

I'd somehow forgotten they had Jack Payne. That's made me sad.

Listening to LSPod Presser, Holloway starting off by getting shitty with Joe for asking Grimsby fans for their views of him. "Don't judge me on what I've done before" - I think probably Ian, you mean, don't judge me on jobs that have gone badly, because if you weren't being judged on jobs that went well, you wouldn't be employed as a football manager.

Bit of a deep sigh starting point. Rest of his answers pretty good, just a real unnecessary edge to that, and a few other chippy bits considering it's his first real pre-match presser.

I really hope this goes well, but it feels like if it doesn't go well on the pitch it's going to get really toxic really fast.

I really dislike the notion that the local press should be positive, without any real reason to be. They're there to do a job. Report on the club. They would not be doing their job correctly if they were being unnecessarily positive considering we sit one place above the relegation zone. As said above, the club media channels? Go for it. Be as positive as can be, but when it comes to local press, they are there to hold people to account and give an accurate reflection on matters at the club.

So, at 61 years young it looks like Holloway becomes the oldest to manage their first game for this great club.

Clem, Hall, Gunning and A N Other in Longs last noght apparently

The messiah is back

He beats Phil Brown by 2 years in that achievement and here is a list of the over 50's who managed us for the first time and some of it makes not good reading to say the least. Difficult to say any of them were successful in any way, the only one being Fred Ford who won anything of any note.

Phil Brown 59
Paul Hart 58
John Sheridan 56
Tommy Wright (caretaker) 55
Roy Evans 53
Fred Ford 53
Colin Todd 53
Kevin McDonald 53

Could this be the day we move to a back 4?!

Could this be the day we move to a back 4?!

The cynic in me would suggest that Holloway, outside of winning some games, is here to nurture Gunning ahead of him eventually getting the job.

Hey fellow immigrants, is this on a firestick anywhere?

I absolutely agree with you WB on this.

I think if the nurturing of Gunning goes to plan then Holloway could go "upstairs" and give the team reigns over to Gunning, who Clem thinks is gods gift to management to eventually take over.

I just don’t see it. His interpersonal skills are appalling, by anybody’s standards. I don’t see any indication he has a particularly tactical mind, but even if he did, he’s incapable of inspiring anyone. He has none of the skills that would be needed.

No idea how you line that up. 3 strikers, suggests 3-4-3 maybe, with Cox and Sobowale wide, Clarke and Kilkenny sitting in the middle.

No idea how you line that up. 3 strikers, suggests 3-4-3 maybe, with Cox and Sobowale wide, Clarke and Kilkenny sitting in the middle.

I suppose you don't need creativity in the middle if you bypass the middle, just ask Lou Macari...

It could be a 4 with Cox in a midfield 3 so 4-3-3

Had a good search, not even a hint of the match anywhere.

Yes i did the same, there are some open options in the FA cup category on Octo but only 2 games seem to be on, Rovers vs Weston and Northampton v Kettering.

                   Bycroft
 Sobowale Minturn   Wright   Freckleton     
          Clarke  Kilkenny  Cox
        Drinan   Smith   Tshimanga

BBC website have Freckleton in the hole behind the strikers

John Sheridan 56

Good trivia question for someone to work out if it's dull - does their side have more games played for Swindon than ours does? I think it must be close.

Good trivia question for someone to work out if it's dull - does their side have more games played for Swindon than ours does? I think it must be close.

I'm at Falkirk vs Morton with the eldest.  Frankly, don't know why I bother as I spend most of the game scanning the Town End & Twitter for STFC updates.

I'm at Falkirk vs Morton with the eldest.  Frankly, don't know why I bother as I spend most of the game scanning the Town End & Twitter for STFC updates.

Iandolo on his own has 2 more 1st team (league and cup) appearances (172) for Swindon than our entire first 11.

You arent the only one mate, none of us see what Clem sees in him.

No shots on target……what’s changed🤣

None on target from either side.

Imagine extra time and penalties😁

You'd hope we'd manage a shot on target during a penalty shoot out but I think we've managed not to before...

Imagine not leaving the county ground until close to 6pm

After 2 hours of football without a single shot on target too!

0 - 1

It's probably for the best tbh  :cry:

Ah well, theres always next year!

Need to win this.

Is Glatzel toast? Fuck sake

As fans wanting to just win football, yes I agree. But from a pure ''wanting the shitshow out'' POV, with any morsel of positivity, this board take the proverbial inch and use it to tell us how great and tickety boo things are...for at least another quarter of a year; and that progress is being made.

It does nothing but add even more rose colour into the glasses of those who still think everything is ok. I just don't know how bad on or off the pitch it has to get before there is a consensus for change :/

Att: 4,855

We may get a brief new manager bounce but it'll predictably turn to shit when anyone worth anything (McGregor) is sold off in January.

The new manager "bounce" finished on Friday apparently!🙂

1-1 McGregor.

Get in!!!! Criminal offence to leave him out!

He should have started and not Minturn/Freckles IMO, put Sobo at CB if playing 3.

He should have started and not Minturn/Freckles IMO, put Sobo at CB if playing 3.

Likewise with McGurk and Glatzel. Would be starting McGregor, Glatzel and McGurk tbf

Agree 100%

Glatzel def

For me McGurk is our only genuine creative player too and needs much longer than 15 mins per game to make his mark.

I'm going to be very sad when we sell McGregor

For me McGurk is our only genuine creative player too and needs much longer than 15 mins per game to make his mark.

It's not so much ''gerrr ittttt farrrr'rardd'' but more ''gerr itttt on the fakkinn deckkk''

Genuinely think a lot of people haven’t realised this is going to ET. Loads have left

Genuinely think a lot of people haven’t realised this is going to ET. Loads have left

There were people in front of me who thought it was going straight to penalties despite being told otherwise 🙄

They've gone to get food probably.

Definately this, we looks good when passing low and fast, we look shit when we hoof it.

This must be the first time in history we've played extra time on a Saturday. Or do I have a short memory?

2-1 Tshimanga

Yep, true. But I think Clark and Kilkenny are at least decent. Tshimanga gets in above Glatzel and from what I've seen I think he's awful( and if that leads to him scoring the winner, I'll take it back)!

Anywhere to watch the highlights of this later?

Anywhere to watch the highlights of this later?

Town get away with that set piece, Cotterill saves it.

Lovely stuff! What is this second round mystery that now befalls us? What happens now?

I take full credit for that. Thanks 😊

I fully expect us to win & get a really good draw in the second round, because I’ve booked tickets to something else for the evening of the second round assuming we wouldn’t be in it :)

Apparently there's something called a second round draw!

Some upsets so far already in the cup.

Well the first part has happened so fully expect JQ to get his wish

I would like some of whatever Holloway has been on...

''...the structure of this club is fantastic. As good as any club I've ever been at. Even Palace...

I mean, he might just be pumped to be back in management and has just orchestrated a first win but...hmm

That interview came across as incredibly ''soundbitey''. I am hopeful that he is very much with the fans and doesn't want to get involved in ''politics'' but when he says the club structure is fantastic and thanks Clem wholeheartedly...yeah, forgive me for being a smidge concerned.

My main nagging hunch is that it's was very much a ''please the masses with niceties'' type of thing. I want to be fabulously wrong but for as long as the current owner{s} are still at the helm, then I'll continue to approach from a position of distrust.

FT 2-1

We only went and did a win in the fucking FA Cup!

Happy Saturday!

Been the same throughout his career. What you might call a "populist" but God,I wish he wouldn't try to be funny. I don't like the bloke but if he does well for us can't really grumble

I'm just scared that him and Phil King are going to form the worst double act in history.

I listened to his Presser on Loathed strangers yesterday.  His 'bit' about dyslexia and how cruel it was to have such a difficult word for people who cant spell stank of someone at an open mic trying his bit because he always makes his mates laugh.

It was not good.

Nah I think he was implying that he’s dyslexic himself. He wasn’t having a cruel joke - jeez. I’m dyslexic and didn’t go to bed crying.

Nah I think he was implying that he’s dyslexic himself. He wasn’t having a cruel joke - jeez. I’m dyslexic and didn’t go to bed crying.

Nah I think he was implying that he’s dyslexic himself. He wasn’t having a cruel joke - jeez. I’m dyslexic and didn’t go to bed crying.

Nah I think he was implying that he’s dyslexic himself. He wasn’t having a cruel joke - jeez. I’m dyslexic and didn’t go to bed crying.

Crikey! You’re a bunch of miserable buggers!

We won. There is a bit of a buzz. It’s all a bit like when PdC did madcap things.

If we get a cup run and move away from shockingly shite football and what I thought was certain relegation, then I’m happy.

There are lots of things behind the scenes that are still bad, but first and foremost, still having a league club is what I want.

If he can get us up the table, and even into the playoffs, then he can ‘oooo arrrgh’ and crack unfunny jokes as much as he wants.

To clarify It was quality not content.  It was hack shit comedy.  I was expecting him to start trying to do some 'Do you remember spangles' or 'We've all got a man draw haven't we'.  Type material.

To clarify It was quality not content.  It was hack shit comedy.  I was expecting him to start trying to do some 'Do you remember spangles' or 'We've all got a man draw haven't we'.  Type material.

Is Ollie’s interview anywhere online to watch?

Crikey! You’re a bunch of miserable buggers!

We won. There is a bit of a buzz. It’s all a bit like when PdC did madcap things.

If we get a cup run and move away from shockingly shite football and what I thought was certain relegation, then I’m happy.

There are lots of things behind the scenes that are still bad, but first and foremost, still having a league club is what I want.

If he can get us up the table, and even into the playoffs, then he can ‘oooo arrrgh’ and crack unfunny jokes as much as he wants.

With you 100% NMH...Winning today was so important to build on last week...Regardless of our dissatisfaction with the ownership, we simply HAVE to stay in the FL and I think Ollie gives us a chance of doing that...

Ollie is a rare commodity in football/life in that what you see is what you get...guess what, he's not perfect...but I believe that he is putting his heart and soul into the Club and you can't ask for more than that.

We won a game....we won an FA CUP GAME!!!!

Fuck knows where this Club or where this season is going but...ENJOY THE MOMENT MOTHER FUCKERS!!!!...otherwise, what's the point in all of this??

Bit worrying that the scoreboard wasn’t working, the tannoy in the DRS wasn’t working, no gas for the beer, low stock and very little food available.

Did I miss something? Who's not happy with the win?

Colchester?

Highlights don't appear to be on BBC website. Tons of games,not ours

First game of the season for me after a mate offered me a ticket due to his gf being ill. Really enjoyed it especially the second half, much better than the dross I’ve watched us serve up on the Firestick so far. Can’t fault anything on the pitch today, everyone gave 100% and that’s all I want. Off the pitch… wow… things continue to get worse since I last went, appears the scoreboard has given up the ghost again, couldn’t hear anything out of the PA system in The DRS, and wtf has happened to the food kiosks? Hardly any food or drinks. Other than that a great day.

They're up now mate...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/c4gpl1g34qwo

Disallowed goal for offside when their keeper and a defender were also on the line... sigh.

Much better in the second half, I know 352/532 is popular but lower league teams are shit and it's really bloody boring to watch them struggle with it, I much prefer 4 at the back.

Didn't see McGregor's celebration after the first goal, hopefully that adds a zero in January :D

I *think* having watched it 3 times.
The ref has deemed Smith offside when Clarke heads it. Keeper appears to save Clarkes header but it hits Smith & goes in…

They're up now mate...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/c4gpl1g34qwo

So not only have the BBC made it impossible to watch live even if not in UK. But their highlights are not available to watch outside the UK too.
Fucking useless.

I *think* having watched it 3 times.
The ref has deemed Smith offside when Clarke heads it. Keeper appears to save Clarkes header but it hits Smith & goes in…

So not only have the BBC made it impossible to watch live even if not in UK. But their highlights are not available to watch outside the UK too.
Fucking useless.

Took my 8 year old lad in the Town End for the first time.
He loved it, and wants to watch every game now in the Town End.

During Holloway’s post match interview I’m sure he said McGill made the mistake for their goal. It was Drinan, but who the hell is McGill?

My eldest daughter's partner is from Kettering and they live in Bristol so hoping for home to Kettering.

I hope so, I have some great and some shit memories of our only game with Kettering, a 7-0 away win in 1984 in the 1st round, but my mate Sid got glassed in the eye by a group of Northampton fans pre game while playing pool.

Yeah I did the old Freeze frame and Smith was offside when Clark headed it. Keeper fumbled it into Smith and over the line so the offside call was, ultimately correct.

During commentary Hawes seemed to think it had been disallowed for the cross going out of play before coming back in.

During commentary Hawes seemed to think it had been disallowed for the cross going out of play before coming back in.

If you look at their No.3, I think he's playing Smith on at both the point of Clarke's header and when the keeper fumbles it onto Smith.

I hadn't noticed 3 actually, Smith is probably at best level with him.

The draw for the second round of the 2024/25 Emirates FA Cup takes place on Sunday November 3, 2024 during the BBC's first round highlights show.

Proceedings are due to begin at 6.15pm on BBC Two, although the draw itself isn't expected until around 7.45pm.

Live coverage of the FA Cup draw will be shown live and free-to-air on BBC Two, beginning at 6.15pm.

FA Cup second round ball numbers

1. Cheltenham Town
2. Doncaster Rovers
3. Morecambe
4. Boreham Wood or Leyton Orient
5. Exeter City
6. Wigan Athletic
7. Tamworth
8. Brackley Town
9. Curzon Ashton or Mansfield Town
10. Wycombe Wanderers
11. Bradford City
12. Gainsborough Trinity
13. Burton Albion
14. Oldham Athletic
15. Bromley
16. Walsall
17. Wealdstone
18. Bristol Rovers
19. Franchise or AFC Wimbledon
20. Solihull Moors
21. Stockport County
22. Reading
23. Stevenage
24. Kettering Town
25. Accrington Stanley
26. Swindon Town
27. Salford City
28. Dagenham & Redbridge
29. Barnsley
30. Chesham United or Lincoln City
31. Chesterfield or Horsham
32. Charlton Athletic
33. Notts County or Alfreton Town
34. Maidenhead United
35. Harrogate Town or Wrexham
36. Cambridge United
37. Gillingham or Blackpool
38. Harborough Town
39. Sutton United or Birmingham City
40. Peterborough United

Brum at home would be decent😁

Don't they usually do it alphabetical or the league teams alphabetical and then non league? Those are all over the place.

I thought it was a goal that should have stood, No. 3 is Iandolo.

Or Brizzle Rovers.

Less chance of being on TV now Wrexham are out🤣

Good, should shut up some of our fans who seem to think that would be a dream tie

We'll get Accrington away

FFS  :doh:

Accrington Stanley Away FFS

Let's be positive. Good chance of getting to round 3 . Can't be humiliated by a non league side at home . We did beat Accrington away last season 4.3 .

Yes and were 3-0 up until the last 5 minutes and nearly fucked it up

Question

Is the 4-3 win away at Accrington the angriest our fan base has ever been after a win?

It felt like a defeat.

Question

Is the 4-3 win away at Accrington the angriest our fan base has ever been after a win?

It felt like a defeat.

Not a win but similar to the 1-1 draw at Barrow this season.
That seemed to be the turning point for many for Kennedy, mostly for the ridiculous post match interview

Let's be positive. Good chance of getting to round 3 . Can't be humiliated by a non league side at home . We did beat Accrington away last season 4.3 .