Thetownend.com

Off to the theatre of shit on Saturday.

Town unbeaten in 3 games and Ollie having a 100% win ratio in his short 2 game Swindon career, hopefully we have turned the corner.

Town have an appalling record against the Dongs with just 2 wins in the last 18 meetings with them winning 10 of the games.

We have lost the last 4 meetings between the sides.

Up against our former leader Scott Lyndsey who has started well as manager with 4 wins in his first 7 league games, them sitting in 8ths place on 21 points with 6 wins in the league. Their ranks contain former Town loanee Joe Tomlinson and also have Jamie Day, Ben Gladwin and Steve Hale all former employees of ours on the staff.

Towns form has had a bit of an uplift recently with just 2 defeats in the last 9 games.

A very big game so early in his Town career for Ollie and this could well prove if we have at last got an upturn in form. Nobody really expects us to go there and get a result so the pressure is off really.

Tough game. Would be delighted with a point.

I bet they are looking forward to Tuesday (from Presser)

Dennis Wise did similar when he was here. Then he wanted the players to run it even faster next time they did it!

JJ is having a C&P nightmare today :D

What???? :) surviving on no sleep in 48 hours does that to a man!

I'd certainly take a point to keep this little run going.  I would be absolutely thrilled with a win.

Last time we won there the 3-2 with the beautiful Doughty penalty under Wellens in 2018-19?

You are lucky i like you and didn't quote it :D

Would be a great point really. First league game and its away and crucially it would see Holloway unbeaten in his first 3. Not losing this would give us a lot to build on.

Lets see if IH decides to go 4312 I think we have looked better when we have switched to 4 at the back, something a certain ex manger was blinkered to when it came to a formation change,  but equally we have players to play 352 and maybe tough changing away from that.

Obofor has to start though, use him as the midfield linchpin

4 at the back, start with Ofoborh, McGurk and Glatzel please.

                           Bycroft
McGregor   Sobowale     Wright      Cox
                          Ofoborh
          Clarke       Kilkenny         McGurk   
                Glatzel             Smith

I like the look of this.

I think McGurk would either play in a front 3 or sit behind the front 2 with a license to roam

It would be good to build a spine to the team who are regulars with others fitting in and out as and when, try and build some consistency.

I'm sure there will be certain players who wont play for a while though judging by what IH was saying about not wanting to play certain players that can only manage 45 mins

I think that is how we will set up with the exception of Tshimanga for Glatzel, with  Mcgurk as one of the front 3 as that appears to be Holloways preferred formation of 433

 I think maybe a five switching to a 4 in second half.                   


                         Bycroft

Sobowale  Wright Minturn Freckleton Cox
             
          Clarke       Kilkenny         Ofoborh   
               
              Tshimanga          Smith

About as good as we can put out right now.
Still not seen enough of Cox just yet to think we have that position covered.

I think Cox will need to fight it out with Longelo

All suggestions are an improvement on 352.
I’d still go with a 4231

Sobowale at RB
Which ever CB x2
Cox or Longelo LB

Ofoborh
Kilkenny as the 2 CMs

McGregor as the right side of the attacking 3
McGurk & Cotterill one central, other one left side.  Could potentially push whichever of Cox or Longelo who isn’t at LB forward.

Whichever striker. Probably Smith.

…only real omission in a 4231 is Glatzel.

Heretical I know, and it's understandable considering the team we've been, but Glatzel has done nothing this season to deserve selection. Higher ceiling than Drinan , Smith or Tshimanga for sure, but that's all you have to go on.

Inclined to agree on 4231. We're trying to turn things around and we'e away against a decent side. I think we need to start off conservatively with two in front of the defence, and look to become more attacking as the game goes on.

I mean it’s two deep but we don’t have two defensive midfielders but ideally Ofoborh would be the disciplined holder allowing Kilkenny to play a bit from deep…

Sorta what we tried to do with Cotterill at the start of the season (player from deep) just with a ball winner alongside him & 4 attacking players in front of him…

Just listened to Holloway on the LSpod. I’m such a turncoat, I’m really starting to warm to him. Talks sense.

It's a funny one isn't it, because 95% of what he says I really like and then he just says something that feels a little bit... off. It's hard to say. I definitely think he's an improvement on Kennedy, and that's all that really matters in the short term.


It's a League Two Pirlo/Gattuso midfield and I'm absolutely here for it.

Indeed, that 95% to 5% is almost the exact opposite of Kennedy for me.

Yeah, although Kennedy started off appearing to make some sense, it soon turned into a shit show

Have we sold out? Can’t buy tickets on our site it seems.

2 : 2, dog-eat-dog and vice versa.

Possibly, but we didn't have that many tickets, however they are available on the day at the ground

Not 100% sure, but wouldn't be surprised if they get taken off sale 24-36 hours before for admin reasons.

Anybody want to guess how many we're bringing.

I am going. First away game for a while.

Heard the lower section is open. So should be a decent atmosphere.

Just over a 1,000 sold I believe. Pay on the day also, should be over 1,200

1,077 #STFC fans travelling to Stadium MK tomorrow! 👏🏼

🎟️ Tickets are available on the day from 12:30pm - cash/card payments, no price increase.

Thank you for your incredible support. See you tomorrow 🔴⚪️

Pre match less than enigmatic ale selection in Captain Ridley's Shooting Party.

Also a distinct lack of hydration outlets in Bletchley. What do the locals do here, how do they survive.

Stay in the spoons or be reduced to trying to get signed into the Conservative Club down the road or a 15 min walk to The Chequers in Fenny Stratford.
A 30 min walk to the soulless bowl with the padded seats either way.
Will be glad to get back to civilization this evening.

At least today's visit doesn't coincide with a drum and bass all dayer in the arena. Just what the headache needed at the time.

Got to be envious of clubs who have the opportunity to greatly increase non matchday income, eh.

Must admit to having doubts about Holloway when appointed and wasn't overly keen on the bloke anyway.
But minds can be changed and the last couple of games have been enjoyable.

Certainly no cryptanalysis required with Holloway is there.
Have we ever had a more enthusiastic manager? Hope he doesn't explode.

Big test today, first league game in charge and it's away to the biggest club in the division (based in a retail park category). Massive.
A defeat would be no surprise, almost expected even, but hoping that we can trump the faux Dons or at least give them a few problems to solve.

Couldn't really see a way forward under Kennedy.
Can see the potential for improvement with Holloway though.

A miraculous transformation from sorry looking concrete cows to finest Wagyu beef on the hoof?

Maybe just the start of a journey to make Swindon great again.
More likely a case of pull the udder one as some of the obstacles look insurmountable at the moment.
We shall see.

A lovely write up as always Bob! I do agree on Holloway, he has this infectious enthusiasm about him, which could always make it worse if this high comes tumbling all the way down again! But at least we finally have a little bit of positivity around after 2 back to back wins. I live in the Toon so won’t be making the game today, but I’ll be firing up the dodgy stick for the first time in a while and give a watch!

Great read as always Bob. Allegedly there is a decent boozer in a park somewhere between Bletchley train station and the ground. Thats unconfirmed however.

Last year the wife drove and went shopping. Pre-match was bang bang cauliflower and a few beers. Can't be bothered this year.

Undecided as to whether we win 2-1 or lose 3-0

I think we’ll lose by one goal but play well.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gb8qYbuXgAId8E5?format=jpg&name=large)

Honestly, WTF?

Hmm...

Freckleton not even in the squad.

Good to see Delaney and Wright finally start together. Not sure I agree with much of the rest but we'll see.

Is that a 433?

Odd neither Mc’s are starting but hey at least with Holloway I have a little faith he’s at least based his selection on something he has or hasn’t seen in training rather than just randomly picked players

Jesus christ, what is he doing? No McGregor, no McGurk, no Glatzel, no Ofoborh.

Risking wrath,(including mine if we don't play well) by leaving the 2 macs out after last week I think

My quiet optimism about today has escaped me.

Definately surprised to not see Ofoborh and McGregor in the line up, would have liked to see Glatz and McGurk too but Ollie must have a game plan.

On the plus side,that must be the strongest bench we've had for years

He’s either a genius or that’s an absolutely bizarre starting lineup

Just watched Ollie and the team getting off the coach, I havent seen such an engaging and friendly manager in years, full of laughs and enjoying it with fans.

He really is a breathe of fresh air at the moment.

As for today it could all be part of a gameplan he has and there could be injuries we are not aware of I guess.

Morecambe and Carlisle both win late on in the early games.

Olay’s plan is to keep it tight the. Bring the class on seasons half (hopefully) ?

My hovercraft is full of eels

If it's not going well can always listen in to the throb of the 90's rave anthems blasting out from next door I guess.

BBC have us as a Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2

Ross Embleton on co comms today with Hawes. Hes now head of recruitment at West Ham.

By a long way and a long time.

If its 0-0 at half time with that bench, i'll feel a lot more positive.

Exactly this, hold them 1st half and bring on the creativity 2nd half.

I fully expect us to see MKD playing the ball around at the back and a slow build up so if we can press them we could make them make mistakes as we did to Lindseys Crawley team when we put 6 past them.

MK fans will get on their teams back if its not going well, they always do, Wimbledon took the pressing game to them last week and won there, so can we if we play as a unit.

TBH would their players hear any dissent from their own fans when theres hardly any of them there anyway, the place looks like a reserve fixture at the CG for the spread of fans few and far between.

That was a bit disrespectful by the BBC not covering the minutes silence today. Disappointed by that.

Evidently holloway knows what he's doing 1-0

1-0 Smith!

Hoorah 1-0

Oh wow!

Jesus! Only just sat down!!

What a great cross from Clarke for Smiths header, lovely.

Scored before my stream even loaded.

Well fuck a duck. Didn't expect that.

Wahoooo! GET IN

Tomlinson with a long shot, easy save by Bycroft.

Bycroft with a save with his feet after some mistakes in defence, saved us there.

Nice to have a back 4, but there is a distinct lack of pace.

The camerawork is shocking so far.

The MK number 20 Thompson-Sommers is the one we should be pressing, hes made 3 mistakes already so far.

Smith 35 yard shot just over the bar.

Good effort from Smith

Low save at the near post by Bycroft.

Almost all MKD since the goal but we are having a few forrays upfield but not keeping possession too well.

€5 bet we miss a goal because we are watching a replay.

Sobo gives away a corner with a loose header.

Tomlinson is looking bright

We definitely scored too early…

That’s up there with the worst corners of all time there

Possibly THE worst corner I have ever seen, straight along the floor to Clarke only 20 yars away and cleared.

Several loose passes and touches today so far.

Butterworth a bit too slow thinking as he was clear in the box but couldnt get a shot in.

TBF Tomlinson is a tough opponent.

Not sure how Delaney won that throw in when it came off him!

Long shot by the winger well wide at Bycrofts near post.

MKD are pretty much as expected, lots of passing around at the back, can't cope well with high balls and crosses and have a slow build up for attacks, very much as Lindsey played when in charge of us.

They struggle when we press them high and can't deal with Smith in the air so we need to use that more.

I also dont think Drinan playing wide right is working too well so far.

Drinan is definitely doing the donkey work.

Nice to see we aren’t afraid to just put our foot through it to clear our lines.

Forward wise, the passes into / in the final third are just off by a few yards

Very poor by Butterworth not clearing the ball in our box after dribbling back, he rarely connects properly with passes.

He is putting in a lot of running but I would prefer him in the middle rather than Tshimanga and put McGrrgor in at RW. Tshimanga has offered little so far again.

I do think we have missed the deep crosses from Cox so far today too.

If Longelo had connected well with that shot it could have been a goal as it was he scuffed it badly.

Sobowale is far too slow on the ball

Bycroft down injured under no pressure.

Hes having a pretty poor game so far.

Looks like a keeper change incoming

Hawes thinks its a fake injury at Ollies request.

Butterworth with an awful shot from 20 yards that goes 20 yards wide.

He keeps getting the ball passed to his feet whilst he’s facing his own goal by the time he turns forward he’s been pressed. Needs it in front of him facing forwards ideally.

Yeah but I swear I saw Barden take his bib off - thought he getting kitted up

The CG is hardly Galatasaray-like, but must be demoralising walking out as an MK player every other week with the lack of noise

I wonder if Bycroft does have a long term injury as this seems to happen in a lot of games this season so far.

We can hope ;)

So many wasted passes

Sobo with a great late tackle with just Bycroft to beat, corner to them.

Corner to Swindon.

Drinan doing really well this half. Working his bollocks off

That looked like a foul on Tshimanga in the box.

Well that looks a penalty to me on first viewing

Corner to them.

Corner scrambled clear by Town.

Watched it again, 100% a penalty for me, Tshimanga dragged back.

We probably should’ve had a penalty there

Think they could’ve just had one too. Suppose it evens out

Should have been 2 penalties for me

Town scramble it clear again as MKD piss around in the box without getting a shot in, much like Lindsey sides did at Town.

Tomlinson with a shockingly weak shot with just Bycroft to beat, an easy save.

Half decent half but MK definitely causing issues.

Terrible effort from Tomlinson a reminder

How did Tomlinson get there & have so much space

Town riding their luck a lot so far defensively.

Save!

Bycroft with a great low save from an unmarked header 6 yards out.

Holding on a little now. Got to get into HT ahead

Same for Gilbey

Both times Sobowale’s man I think?

Longelo nice tackle but gives away a corner. Looked like a goal kick.

Yeah. Sobo struggling positionally at times

Ffs

1-1

So Swindon

Good initial save but its been coming.

It was coming

Smith not at all happy with Bycroft! Not surprising as that was poor!

Well, can’t say that wasn’t coming. Harsh of me to say Bycroft should be doing better with the initial effort?

HT 1-1

Did ok but MK have the upper hand most of the game, the goal was coming.

Why in the world did he decide to palm that away rather then catch it!!

I thought it was a terrible save, no need to push it out in front of him - that was on Bycroft for me

Think he could have done better but also feel he’s made some very vital saves.

100 percent, appalling keeping!

No, he should have tipped it round the corner for a corner rather that pushing it out into the 6 yard box

Wierd that 1 goal scored 20 secs into the half, the other goal scored 20 secs from the end of the half.

So so poor from Bycroft.

Yep, that was poor from Bycroft. But hes made some other decent saves (what he is paid for i guess)

Shame.

Probably he should have done better TBH.

Ones that Barden would have saved too.

Rather have our own keeper than a loan one, but Bycroft does some daft things at times.

Smith didn't think so.

On the replay I think he should at least be pushing that around the post

That's Bycoft all over though. Saves the difficult stuff but it useless at the basics.

I think for 40 minutes, that was a really good away performance against a team no doubt better than us. However, the last few minutes were really quite poor. Clarke gifted them the ball back and we couldn’t get out at all. When we got at them, we looked threatening.

You would've taken a draw at half time tbf. Silly mistake from Bycroft but thought Smith's reaction was fucking stupid. He's a young lad, you need to support and encourage not fucking shove him. Not a fan of Smith's attitude - same energy for the braindead red card he got.

I would FUCKING love us to win this game, but would definitely take a draw.

There seems to be a perpensity in the game that keepers are taught to push saves out wide rather than trying to hold onto saves as they used to.

Bycroft is very good at this, he gets to shots but often cannot get any distance onto the pushed save to get the ball clear, keepers used to try to hold onto saves they just dont seem to any more and that has cost us on several occassions.

Barden does exactly the same as did Murphy-Mahoney and Brynn too.

What happened with Smith and Bycroft?

PdC would have subbed him! 😂

Smith was angry with Bycroft and pushed him

McGregor on for Butterworth.

Smith sounds like the school bully.

Butterworth not impressed me today at all, not surprised hes gone off.

Not impressed me in any game really

Thats true TBH.

Sobo with a great saving tackle.

This is a bit backs to the wall this half.

Jesus Christ. They've really stuffed that but great cover from sobo.

Come on town

…the one that hit Delaney’s (I think heel) and stoped that he dived out & saved with his feet was a really good save.

We are definitely against it but I still feel this is an improvement

2 great chances by Town, corner to Swindon, wierd 30 secs of play.

Bloody hell what a passage of football

Tshimanga always looks off balance to me

Tshimanga is not very good is he?

He is either always leaning back or falling forwards when hes on the ball.

Corner to them on the counter.

1-2

Decent first save IMO but had no chance with the follow up shot.

How is the man on the line on Bycroft not interfering with play?

Offside surely. Player on line?

He’s also obstructing Bycroft shirely

Bycrofts foot was definately held back by the man on the floor.

VAR rules that out 100%
Magurie is offside
Maguire is obstructing the keeper
Maguire actually gets the last touch

Yellow for Tshimanga or Smith.

(I also have no recollection of MJ Williams ever playing for us)

I'd rather the odd wrong decision than having VAR at this level.

He was Jordan Williams back then, on loan from Liverpool, CM/CD

All over

Really got nothing to lose now.
Let’s get McGurk on

Regardless of whether the goal should’ve stood, Bycroft has to be more assertive in the 6 yard box. So timid

1-3

Capitulated

Still, nothing…

Probably a foul but not offside. The striker had 2 players (Bycroft & Delaney) behind him. Just because Delaney was off the pitch he counts as being on the goal line under the offside law as he didn’t ask permission to leave the pitch.

Pathetic. Still going down. Two cup wins count for nothing.

He wasnt very good TBH a bang average youngster.

That was a cracking cross and finish

No, he's awful. Glatzel twice the player

We’ve looked worse since the change in formation.

I think we are showing that you can’t play with 2 in midfield

Definately agree.

Yes keep 4 at the back and put Ofoborh into a more defensive role would have done it.

Sigh

Back to usual then

Longelo looks knackered and probably has to come off soon.

It was the season we had about four Jordans and about five Williamses, it's very confusing. And three Liverpool loanees.

Good idea by Smith but a bit too far in front of Tshimanga to make it work.

Poor smith.

Come on bycroft, shove him

Loose by Sobo giving the ball away too cheaply there nearly cost us.

Get Longelo and and Tshimanga off.

McGurk on for Smith.

Glatzel on for Longelo.

Smith apparently throwing his armband to the floor and walking straight past Ollie, that wont go down well if true.

That’s another penalty

He's a dick isn't he

We need him though

McGregor hasnt had the best of games too, I think we just need to write this game off as a bad day at the office all round.

Board to blame, nobody else. I'm resigned to non league.

Glatz close to scoring with his first touch, save by the keeper.

Yep, his character is very questionable.

This was a tough away game for where we are at the moment. But with the bottom two winning we have to sort this out next week very quickly.

No kneejerk from me, TBH MKD are just a better team than us, we have tried but we just arent good enough, on most days we can beat almost every other team in this league, the effort is there just not the quality.

We’ve been competitive in spells (and complete over classed in others) but despite the result still feel that we’ve seen a lot worse this season…

That may be true but why aren't we at their level or above, board and recruitment to blame.

I agree totally, I think Ollie got the formation wrong at HT and change it too much, but this is nowhere near as bad as most games under Kennedy IMO.

This. Results won’t improve and we WILL go down under these owners

They have a forward thinking owner, absolutely and we don't but I dont see us sliding to non league at the moment I think we are still a mid table side. That could easily change though, and 4 games ago I would agree.

Losing to MK away is not relegation material. There are a few big games coming up which will tell us about that.

Yeah, we are all fully aware of our owners short coming.
We don’t need reminding every week.

Ofoborh on for Delaney
Cotterill on for Drinan

Att: 7,407 (1,242 Town)

I think they should have done inasmuch that they should have influenced team selection today.

We could afford to take a ‘played ok but got beat’ game today.
We can’t afford any more of them. Particularly with our up coming run.

Before Hollaway I was resigned to NL, he has shown enough for me to show we will win more games than under MK, so I am way more relaxed.  Still think we will finish bottom half which is not good enough, but I think his experience will be massive in keeping us in the league - which is still ridiculous for this club, and sits at the desk of the owners

Obviously MK have sat back after the third but we are still creating a bit - which is more than we were doing a few weeks back

This.

Agree 100%

McGurk decent delivery from a FK Glatz header goes over the bar.

Accy 3-0 up against Chesterfied

For me it highlights that Butterworth and Tshimanga aren't good enough, we should have started with Ofoborh and Glatzel and shoehorned McGurk into the team, hes looked decent since hes come on again. Delaney has done ok today too. Also I dont think Longelo is as good as Cox.

Oh and Smith is a fucking petulant child and should be reprimanded by Ollie.

Tshimanga is pure Bambi on ice

Hes like a shorter Mark McCammon if anyone else remembers him from his loan, no 1st touch, no 2nd touch and falls down all the time.

Admittedly I’ve not seen much of todays match so this might be unfair but I can’t for the life of me understand why we started that Drinan, Smith, Tshimanga front 3 again. Our 2 last wins have shown we need one or 2 of those 3 and then a more mobile/creative player in combination. The 3 together don’t work.

Every time the ball goes near Tshimanga he off balance & on his way down.

I don’t think I’ve seen him get the ball & stay on his feet.

He tries to do the falling down spin and shoot ALL the time!

Not enough mobility in that 3 front player line up.

FT 1-3

Yes,our performances have improved but I'm not of the opinion that Holloway gets away with that result scot free. He's had a good look at everyone and if he thinks that McGregor,McGurk,Ofobohr and Glatzel aren't good enough to start today,my opinion of him hasn't changed. Wondering what the Gas gasbag is gonna waffle on about this time. Reserving judgement on him as far as Swindon are concerned. He's seen 2 decent performances and ignored them seemingly

Agree with most of this.  I still don't think McGurk is fit enough to start, but he needs these minutes regularly to get him there - he needs to be in the team though as he is the only one in the squad that can do what he does, pass the ball through the lines.

I think we are seeing a different Clarke as well now, thought he was decent today.

I’m happy to send Tshmanga, Cotterill and Frecklington home at Xmas.

As long as he is allowed to replace I would agree

Some positives from that

Backs to the wall for most of the first half but until 45+3 I thought we stood up well.
The goal before half time knocked the stuffing out of us. Took us too long to get going second half bu the time we did it was game over.

At 3-1 we looked the more likely to score the next goal but that was in part due to MK dropping off & shutting up shop.

Unfortunately, play off chasing Franchise isn’t where we are competing these days. Feel we looked good enough today that we will compete & pick up points against the teams in & around us.

We’ve probably got enough to keep our heads above water but not by much…

 we are still in big trouble. a minor new coach bounce may not last very long .

I thought today’s performance showed we aren’t far off competing with the better sides in the division.

Delaney was a positive today, as was Clarke who had a good game.

Sobowale was inconsistent.

McGregor and Longelo had poor games. As did Bycroft, who effectively cost us the game by that poor flap 20 secs before half time. If we’d gone in 1-0 up, it might have been a different game.

Butterworth and Tshimanga aren’t starters. I’d question whether they are league standard (along with King and Freckington)

McGurk and Glatzel together play well.

Drinan is a workhorse or cart horse. Charged at people when he doesn’t have the ball and scares them! Rest of the time is poor.

Smith had a good first half until he got the hump!

Holloway had a stinker. His 1/2 time change was wrong. Then going to 2 in midfield was bizarre.

Kilkenny and Wright just did their stuff.

Important game in terms of sorting the team out. I thought, despite the early goal, that Swindon looked better after Smith went off, Glatzel looked more effective prompted by McGurk's brilliant play.  Ollie can start benching some senior players.  I hope that smith and Tshimanga don't start the next game, need some pace up front.

Can't disagree with any of that really NMH.

A goalkeeper has to be top priority in January.

Next week is huge.

We only really threatened at 3-1 (opening 20 seconds aside). Glatzel and McGurk looked bright when they came on and you’d hope they’ll start next week. Clarke was better too. MK were better than us, and without the ball, we couldn’t get into the game, but it wasn’t without merit.

Stick a player like Jake Young in this side and it’s very different.

Shout out to Ross Embleton on comms, thought he was excellent.

But Holloway should have known that before the kick off. That's my gripe

It did. But it's hard to properly judge because the game was effectively over. Mkd sat back, which could have been their undoing really had we nicked one

Or put Barden in!

Didn't really expect anything from today, but our next few fixtures are vitally important.

Accrington, Morecambe and Colchester are all coming up. We need to get a good run going to get away from the drop zone. Things look even bleaker today after Morecambe and Carlisle both won away from home today.

Looked back on some clips but not loads so might not be massively accurate, Franchise aren’t a sure thing to go up automatically, they have the squad to do that but for now they’re a play off side/pushing the brink of it.

We’re a decent way off challenging them consistently which means when we’re in a position we were in (1-0 up going into half time), it’s absolutely vital that we’re at least competent enough to play to those limitations and see out the half and see where the 2nd half takes us. Dont get me wrong, that’s not a nice thing to type and is way below where we should be, we should be challenging the top 3 sides toe for toe.

But we’ve all spoken to death the reasons that we’re not doing that so at the very least, if we’re going to play to our limitations we should be seeing out that first half with a lead as much as is needed.

We didn’t and that shows enough reason why we’ll finish where we will (or on course to).

And that’s not a slight on Holloway (although I’d question the starting XI and some changes), he can’t perform magic over a prolonged period.

Definite goal kick & not a corner that eventually led to their first. Then again opportunities to prevent the goal after that.

Overall, too many had off days.

Clarke & Kilkenny emerge with some credit, Wright & Delaney as well.

Over to you Ian.

Reminds me of when Andy King put out a back three of Heywood, Reeves and Viveash and we got thrashed by Chesterfield!

I'm going to say it now do it doesn't seem like hindsight but I have a real bad feeling about Holloway. Some weird selections today and some weirder subs.

Just listened to his interview after and let's not pretend that if Kennedy had said some of that we wouldn't be baffled.

Openly admitting he doesn't know the rules and doesn't know how to deal with that style of play worried me

He's a fucking waffler. Always has been. I'll be happy to be proved wrong but today he fucked up completely both in team selection and game management. In my opinion

think they would be happy to because we’re shit and not playing the right football them to shine

Havent read back.

Started well and faded.

Never looked like we could turn the game in our favour, even at 1 zip up.

Rushed everything in the final third for some reason.

Umbongo couldnt stand up.

Smith last his shit again. We cant have our best (of a bad bunch) forward now being frozen out.

Shouldnt of had a corner for their first. Bycroft fuck up after a couple of smart saves.

VAR would of probably disallowed their second. Offside and holding on to Bycrofts leg.

Didnt need the refs help to beat us though.

Franchise are all cunts and i said this everytime ifollow zoomed in on them.

Gloom.

Now read back.

He's not offside. McGregor is playing him on. He's off the pitch without the referees permission so it's deemed as if on the line.

The holding, maybe so.

Whatever the decisions, we were second best by some distance. I’ll keep banging the drum for McGurk in a Kemp type role. Failing that, push Kilkenny further forwards. The midfielders need someone who shows for the ball, can turn, and supply the strikers. And I’ve not seen anything to suggest Butterworth is the answer.

Started with four at the back, soon switched to a five (with Drinan at RWB) as we were being overrun in midfield.

Lino got a lot of stick over not giving offside decisions, but not convinced he was wrong. However he clearly got it wrong for the corner which led to their first goal.

Had we have gone in at HT 1-0 up who knows what would have happened, even more so if the clear penalty on Tshimanga in the first half had been given and converted. However the fact that Tshimanga didn’t appear to be able to stay on his feet, even when not challenged probably didn’t help his cause.

Sobowale was excellent in the first half, making several important interceptions, but was poor in the second half, especially when moving over to the left hand side.

Overall the team looked disjointed and struggled for a lot of the game, and despite the fact we had no help from the officials we didn’t really deserve anything from the game.

Only positive was its only half the distance home after the game

In hindsight Holloway is correct he didn’t really get the tactics right. I don’t think Lindsey won his first league game as mk manager, Rome wasn’t built in a day and all that. I fully expect to beat Accrington though

The next month is literally going to make or break our season.

Accrington, Morecambe, Colchester, Fleetwood.

Come Christmas we are either going to be breathing a huge sigh of relief or be absolutely fucked.

Are you Cotterills dad?

And they’re not part of that? I think they can shine all they want in reserve football but far better to stick around and turn things around here - if they have the right attitude (your post suggests they don’t)

He seems a bit of a liability as well, judging by his last league outing

In a normal club I'd disagree with you. It is very difficult to pull away but a strong January window can help.

In a normal club.

We are now 4 points behind Accrington, who have a game in hand. We can not let those above us pull out a gap.

Harrogate and Bromley currently in the mix. Have a feeling Colchester and Carlisle will pull out of this

This regime get away with murder

The fact that we are 22nd in the league and fighting relegation from the basement just seems to have been accepted by the fanbase

If the worst did happen we ain’t coming back up with this regime- they won’t be able to compete with Barnet and all and another relegation is more likely

Orchestrated campaign needed to oust them asap- the fans would have to do it as the trust are just sitting on their hands coming out with the line that there is no interest which suits Clem and co but someone needs to tell him if we lose our league status then he has zero chance of getting any of his money back

Whilst I think the team we have will lose to Franchise' team they currently have 8/10 times we played, if presented in a vacuum, Ian Holloway made some mistakes yesterday.

I've been on the fence about his appointment but I do have some concerns, particularly listening to his interviews where he's talking about him and his own enjoyment of being back in football, rather than addressing some of the fundamentals the team are struggling with. Banging on about this being a staggeringly good team of players is just flannel, if they were we wouldn't be 22nd in the table. We have absolutely got some gems in there but at the moment they're covered up in so much horseshit that it's unlikely they'll be uncovered until it's too late. The fact we've got one of the best crop of youth scholars in living memory is perhaps the worst combination of events. You can't stick youth teamers on to give them more experience and help their development when you're bottom of the table and chasing survival in the football league, but the quality of some of the yoof absolutely deserve first team game time. That the management is talking about promotion this season paints a sorry state of how much in touch with reality they are. I respect Holloway's previous achievements but with the Grimsby nonsense and some of the waffling I've heard from him already, my 'fake it till you make it'  alarm is ringing in my head. I so want to be proven wrong.

Two cup competition games flatter to deceive and whilst I don't think we're necessarily finding ways to throw away points like we have done the last few years, seeing how Dons were set up and approaching the game did not take a Pep-level genius to resolve. We cannot be throwing points away (Dons were there for the taking yesterday, even if it was just the one point we slunk away with) with the precipice looming.

Credit where credit is due bringing in an old football head who knows how football clubs work is what we've been calling for, unfortunately I don't think we necessarily wanted them in the Ian Holloway mold, more in the leadership and backrooms management role.

I really hope Holloway comes up good, and I'm proven wrong, but at the moment, to quote Bollo, "I gotta bad feeling about 'dis"

Even if we stay in the league this year what the bloody hell is next year going to look like.

I agree with this.

Totally.

But I think we are into worrying about today now, tomorrow later territory

I wouldn't want to be in training on Monday, Bobby Zamora on pre-season training with Ollie:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_IdcK94mAoQ

Not sure if Ollie is losing the plot already after listening to his post match interview where he stated that he needs to watch the game again as Franchise beat us by playing a way he hadn’t come across before and he wants the team prepared if they have to face that system again.

It's all gobbledygook nonsense I reckon

Ollie's 12 games to get to 1000 as a manager takes him to Boxing Day. We'll get a better idea by then if it will work out, if he wants to go on and whether he's backed in the transfer window

First time to MK. Beautiful stadium. Completely wasted on them lot.

Ruined by 3/4 of the away end sitting down.

Atmosphere was quite timid. Would be 3x better if we were within the same postcode as the MK fans.

The football was largely shit. I know Smith scored, but for the rest of the game we pretty much refused to use him. We tried playing out from the back and through the thirds, but with 3 donkeys up top. When the more technical players came on, we improved.

Both fullbacks very poor and offered very little.

Was impressed with Delaney in the first half. Think we've missed him a lot. It's frustrating because up until Bycrofts howler, they didn't really look like scoring.

I do think three at the front - similarly to three at the back - needs at least one of your forwards to be a hybrid/link player to work. Tshimanga - Smith - Drinan is not that. Maybe Drinan and Glatzel are 'half' that player each if you play them either side of Smith but I think you need McGurk or Butterworth in that front three.

As it is, we're playing three strikers and offering next to no attacking threat.

Agree and imo Mcgurk offers more than Butterworth in that role. Would also expect Oforborh to start at Accrington alongside Clarke in the middle.

Concur.

If you playing 433 then you need at least one (but ideally both) of your outside forwards to wide forwards. Picking up the ball & either going outside & getting crosses in the box or going inside and shooting. The Barry - Davison - McKirdy front three was a good as an example as you’ll probably get in L2 of a three working. As you say the front 3 we started Saturday isn’t that.

If you are playing a 343 you can probably get away with 3 out & out strikers upfront because in theory the creative play should come from the wingers who then also in theory have 3 targets to aim for on & around the box.

Smith, Tshimanga, Glatzel and Drinan all want to be that one in the middle. Smith is best at it.

The others aren't very good either side of Smith. But I would be inclided to give McGurk and Glatzel the nod, as I think both could link well together. I'd play them either side of Smith.

Then, if it wasn't working, I might think about McGregor in an advanced roll to replace one of them. I would also try to blood Ameen when possible to see if he could handle it.

Drinan would be there as a battering ram to replace Smith on the odd occasion

What was the spat with Smith pushing Bycroft on Saturday after the 3rd goal?

Smith didn't look happy when he was substituted

Smith is a giant twat with a massive attitude problem

Just caught the extended highlights recorded from sky (they missed the first goal, dopes) and their equaliser is absolutely awful keeping. Surely Bycroft could have just moved his feet a little bit and caught the ball? Perhaps I'm doing him a mis service and it was spinning like Billy oh

It weren't great was it? Still no excuse for that reaction from Smith imo

Indeed. How did he pass Jamie's Russell stringent recruitment checks? Or was this a Kennedy 'trust me' deal.

He has scored decently for us recently. He is comfortably the most effective of our forwards.

Bycroft made a bad mistake, but you can't react like that on the pitch.

Totally.

Smith was relegated last season so maybe he’s part of the problem

Being relegated makes you a bit of a dick?

Sorry, I mean show pashhhhuuun

Maybe he has a bit of an attitude problem.

However, one thing you absolutely can't deny

If he gets service inside the box, he scores goals.

He's on 4 in 9 in the league. He isn't the problem (when hes not elbowing people). It's us not using him properly and not giving him the correct supply.

That was an issue of ours early on. The full backs we had weren't putting the ball on his noggin, which is pretty much the only reason he's here. If you're gonna have a player like Smith you have to utilise his strengths and we really failed until recently.

I do think he has a bit of an issue with his attitude though. Videos of him waving at goalkeepers getting sent off and stuff like that, there's just no need for it. Focus on playing.