Thetownend.com

Was a bit worried everyone had lost interest. Who,if anyone did enough on Tuesday to get in?

Ollie’s interviews are getting longer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB7Uc_eEeXk

Delaney according to Holloway, which was... not how I saw things but I guess it's an organisational thing. And we have no other fit CBs really.

I just hope we don't revert to three at the back, three up front. Play some midfielders please.

Bradford 3-1 Swindon att: 17:238

I’m going to use this one. Tough match tomorrow, take a point

Plenty of passion in his interview

Speaks a lot of sense about pissing around with it at the back and every lower league team trying to be a Pep side.

He talks a lot of sense as well as being angry, passionate and caring.

That was my main glimmer of optimism early on. A couldn't give a fuck Seradactyl, he is not.

Not scared to speak his mind so hopefully not a Clem yes man.

Merged

Top man👌

Hopefully we'll still see plenty of effort from them all tomorrow but with the injuries I think this'll be a difficult one to get a result from.

I'd snap your hand off if you offered a draw right now.

 despite the 'pashun' apparently shown by the current coach, I fear that we will hit the rocks again.  3- 0 defeat. 

MotM: Cox

We are to Bradford like Colchester are to us.
1 nil away win.

Although he might not make the starting 11.

1-2 win!

Not sure where you get that idea, we've only won at their place 4 times in our history.  W4 D9 L10.

They say "it's the hope that kills you" and it's happening again. The last two results / performances have got me seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (I know, I know... that 'light' is probably a freight train coming straight towards us)... I've even extended our good run in my mind to four games by convincing myself that Colchester was an abberation caused by having to play 120 minutes at Accrington, the disappointment of losing on pens compounded by our opponents then drawing Liverpool away and having to travel to deepest Essex only three days later.

I will never, ever learn.

2-0 to us.

Look at me, I'm even predicting a clean sheet FFS!!

I’m as bonkers as you Shaun 2-1 to us based on Ollie’s latest passionate interview and two wins on the bounce😁

1-1. Which will be decent

More based on recent years, Doyle etc.

I'm thinking the same. Cook for them, Smith for us.

Just watched Ollie's pre match presser and it was absolutely magic. It wasn't 'pashun', which clearly suggests it's totally phoney and people don't believe a word of it... I've never seen a Town manager talk with such genuine PASSION..... and anyone can  see it comes from the heart.... it can't be faked...

Spot on, passion, anger, honesty with a dash of humour!

Pre match only 7 sleeps until the Grimsby protest in The Turls Green.
Sleeps, when used in the context of counting down, what a daft expression.
Only ever uttered in the lead up to the festive season by over enthused local radio presenters up & down the country.

Found out yesterday that I've been wandering around with a fractured shoulder since the morning of the Colchester game.
Nice.
Thankfully the pint arm was not the one affected.

This is the only spoons where there was a request to leave by the manager, albeit minding my own business as the only sober & sensible one in a gloriously rowdy gathering.
What a great day out that was with a 96th min penalty winner celebrated with gusto.

Won't be much gusto involved today that's for sure, more likely to succumb to lack of sleep. Nevertheless glad to have made it here along with the usual 3 or 4 hundred (plus the ex pats) to bring some enlightenment to the soon to be City of Culture.

Not a bad away day since the rail links improved and a pre midday arrival became possible.

This isn't a bad opportunity to add to the points tally with both teams jostling for position near the bottom of the form table.
Then again, they'll be thinking the same as well.
Could all be down to fire in the belly & the stoking thereof come 3pm, and if our lot have even half of that shown by Holloway in the presser then, well it could be a good day.

If Holloway can show that he’s worth his (titus) salt with his management then so will we with our support, whether in the flesh or from the keyboard in the “château”.

If anyone in the away end notices, out of the corner of their eye, somebody taking the express route down the steps then don't worry, keep calm and just carry on watching the game.

Anyway, all I want for Christmas is a proper football club once more.

 I suppose neither can results

I can tell that I'll be in the minority here (and that's fine) but I find his pressers quite difficult to listen to. I think it's just a reaction to working with people like that who love the sound of their own voice so much. It's not fake or anything, I just find it very tiresome, and flinch every time he makes a "woah" noise or something like that. Many won't and that's fine. As with any manager, if he wins on the pitch, he can say just about anything or nothing in the pressers. I'm yet to be convinced that he'll win much, but I hope to be wrong.

I feel the same. But as I said before if we get results can't really criticise. Don't have to like the bloke though, results will make that immaterial

I usually think similar at some point listening Nemo. Not sure what I'd call it - over self confident? Steadfast belief in himself? Full of 💩?

Suppose it doesn't matter much. Results matter, everything else is fluff.

At least he gets that winning matters, possession stats don't. If it works it works.

Have to admit I did chuckle at his story of the Vic eating defender. Even if it didn't have much to do with the price of bread.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gews06nW4AAY6kT?format=jpg&name=large)

Wright only on the bench? WTF?

Wright dropped for Delaney. Lummy.

I'm not saying it won't work. But that is a very er unusual team.

Can't be expecting a physical battle

I am not a Holloway hater unlike many on here but fucking hell he makes some wierd decisions at times with selections and tactics.

That team is not what I was expecting…

…but I said the same last week, so we’ll see…

 a bold selection some might say

Has to be a back four, doesn’t it?

                       Barden
McGregor. Sobowale Delaney Kirkman
           Brown.   Kilkenny.  Cain
        Drinan.      Smith.      Glatzel


Or more likely, Glatzel dropping behind a front two of Drinan and Smith.

Not what I think any of us would predict. But who knows?

Expect Wright to come on for Delaney after H.T. or after 60 minutes.

Where did Cain come from???

Liverpool a couple of years ago.

 I have always regarded Cain as very able

It's "All About Eve".

Is Butterworth still banned? McGurk out of favour again?

Ha ha

Last game of Butterworth's ban I think, one more after this. Clarke suspended for this plus whatever his injury is.

He's going for youthful enthusiasm so we'll see. Come on!!!

Clarke had tight calves, maybe not serious.

More energy and no fucking around at the back😁

Butterworth is banned ..I think mcgurk is out the door!

Yes and yes.

I still think theres a good player in McGurk but hes not been given many chances by the last 3 managers so that must tell you something. He should be one of the 1st names on the teamsheet but hes not even on the bench in most games.

He has to be on the get rid of in January list. Probably alongside all the loanees.

I think that if you listened to the Holloway presser then iut would have been no surprise to see:

- Delaney: Holloway said he was impressed at how well he organised the back line. He is trying to get the back line more vocal and have them talk to eachother. He said that he wants less shouting from the sides and more on the pitch. Delaney was doing that in the last match
- Sobowale: He commented at how well he played at CB. Saying that he has taken all of the positive attributes from playing on the left and was excellent at CB.
- Kirkman: Again, he praised Kirkman for pressing forward as well as defending. He said that he got into positions the midfield should have been vying for - especially the goal. He talked about him being positive and not being afraid in defefending as well as attacking and scoring a goal. (He compared him with Longelo, who had told him that he could run past people, rather than Kirkman, who just got on with it. Holloway told Longelo to show him, which he did in the first half at Wycombe, until tiredness resulted in a late tackle and red card)
- Wright: He has been critical of Wright since he pushed Smith in the back, resulting in him scoring an own goal. Suggestion also being that he doesn't help others and is bang average at defending.

To me, Cain was the shocker. Thought he did well at Wycombe, but surprised to see him starting.

Cain must have impressed in training

I can’t agree with dropping Wright, but if we win, we win. If we don’t, that’s a decision right there that just isn’t based on anything more than a managerial hunch. I’ve no issue with Cain, but with Brown and Kilkenny - that’s a lightweight midfield, and I’d prefer to see Ofoborh in there.

Not sure about Cain but im glad we’ve gone with a back four.

I don't think Wright being dropped is actually that much of a shock. During that run he was just a terrible as the rest of the defence.
And playing a back 4 with Delaney, for his vocalisation at the back, requires Sobawale's pace & recovering runs to make up for him being slower than tectonic shift.

On Tuesday Cain sat in front of Kirkman and that worked fairly well, they must be scared of whoever is playing wide right for Bradford today as I see that as almost doubling up on marking.

I also think Delaney has been picked over Wright as hes is (allegedly) better in the air when marking Cook who has no pace much like Delaney so if he sticks to Cook at least COok wont beat him for pace!

Wright is on surface an excellent footballer but not sure on his defensive capabilities. Let's see how it goes without him

One thing Holloway mentioned in the presser was us fans don’t see what he sees in training!

Early corner for them.

Smith has trampoline boots on so far.

Some big gaps in our defence as they countered us, Sobo with a good read though clearing the ball.

Smith nearly gets to the ball in front of the keeper again as he did last week when he scored but the ref gives a foul and a yellow for Smith, not a foul IMO.

Games gone, how in the fuck is that a yellow for smith!

No, but I worried that he was going to produce a red!

Drinan wins a corner.

I find it hard to imagine there won't be a second yellow if that's the standard!

The thing is as well that more than 50% of Smiths game is based on aggression, take that away and hes a shadow of the player he can be.

Town win another corner.

A couple of decent corners by Cain so far, no way was that a foul on the keeper though, this ref is blowing up for everything so far.

Slack by Cain as he tried to clear the ball there, giving it away just outside our box.

Don’t think Smith has even touched him.
Keeper has decked it after the kick for no real reason.
Hate shit like that. Keeper doesn’t needlessly react like that & Smith doesn’t get booked imo

Not a single goal yet in L2 in the 3.00 kos

Poor by Brown there in our own box.

Absolutely, no way was that even a foul let alone a yellow.

16 minutes into the game & I can so far kinda see the logic. The better in the air Delaney up against Cook & Sobowale with the pace to mop up the second balls…

Great take by Smith on the edge of the box but he made a mistake in trying to shoot after it.

Glatzel fouled near the corner flag.

Kilkenny tries a shot, keeper tips it over the bar.

0-1

Barden made the 1st save but couldnt get to the follow up.

Dear, dear, dear!

Should be holding that…

Not very good goalkeeping

Just need to clear that, was in 2 minds to header it back.

Equal blame between Sobowale and Barden

A customary tale

Sobo caught in 2 minds of what to do and ended up doing neither.

Cook doing his usual thugerry putting a knee into Delaneys back.

If Smith does the same he gets a red😁

Harsh to put blame on the keeper there IMO, he had to reset himself when Sobo stood on the ball, to expect him to hold a shot from 5 yards in front of him is optimisitc to say the least.  At least he tried to push it away instead of out in front of him.

Very good delivery by Cain from the FK.

McGregor cross and the defender nearly puts it into his own net in the corner, but the keeper saves it.

My first thought in real time was - it was close enough to his body that he should have held it in.

Bradford players love a fucking good moan.

That was as much a yellow for the tackle on Kirkman as Smiths yellow was earlier.

Yeah i get it, but the flick inside from Sobo meant that Barden had to reset and then just react to the shot - no flick and I would agree with you

None of our crosses can beat the first man.

Or like that from Sobo....straight into touch.

2 mins added.

I think that is as much to do with Bradford as us, they are very quick to close down in their own half

They do close us down quickly, but our crossing has not been good today even when under little pressure.

Agreed, even McGregor seems to be struggling today

HT 0-1

Did ok but not many goals in this game for me and few good chances.

Shame that the Sobowale error resulted in a goal. We looked quite solid apart from that.

Created nothing at the other end though.

Hmmm how to summarise that half.

Wasn't terrible. Limited Bradford, and had it not been for a personal error would go in even. So it's kind of worked.

Yet there is surely a bit of an opportunity here as the second half progresses, assuming we keep them out.

Don't currently look like scoring mind.

I feel sorry for those of you who have had to watch a lot of this season - I imagine it numbs you to it a bit.  That was an awful half of football, from both teams.  Bradford just look a little less worse than us, which is probably why they are 11th and winning.  I'm struggling to get any sense of enjoyment from watching what I have done this year, it's like Flitcrofts team but somehow a bit better technically but less effective, which makes it even worse.  I don't really remember the early 80's, so I have probably seen worse, but in the time of my memory, this is our worst team by a long stretch.

Agreed.  Sobo at fault for not belting it anywhere after the bounce was unkind.  Not a huge misjudgement but Bradford's press and better breaking means rhey were the more likely to get that kind of break.  1-0 HT lead is not unfair.

League 2 is hardly the Premier League! its always been this standard. I thought we played quite well for most of that game, we just aren't creating any good chances.

It's really tough to hold onto those types of shots - you are not set properly because of the fuck up and you expect more power, so you are likely adjusting backwards a bit.  Hence why you react and push it out without much power.  Clear the initial ball and nothing comes of it.

Not been threatening at all.
Not looked massively troubled at the back either.
One individual error & some not great goal keeping & we are behind.

I think it’s one where you’d take encouragement from the performance at least - if this was 4-5 games ago.

As I’ve said before; think we are past the point ‘encouraging signs’ we need results.

It's not terrible, but you can't really play for a 0-0 when one down.

At least Morecambe are losing. Surprised to see Flynn's Cheltenham so upwardly mobile.

I have seen plenty of L2 football thanks, this is bad.  The drop off scale in L2 is not massive, the entire league is always a bit shabby, but this is easily the worst STFC team I can remember seeing.  The stats back me up.  Wellens' team would knock our lot off 4-0 easily enough, Di Canio's team would put 2 past us ans sit down on the clean sheet, Wise/Sturrock's team would probably look a bit like Bradford but a smidge better, Macari's team would just push us out of the way.  In the context of where we are - the performance is not terrible, the game however is, and compared to those other teams this is just so poor.  It's more that we have managed to allow ourselves to end up in this state.

Thats a pretty good post!

But I think this performance is better (more solid) than anything we have seen for a while.

We just haven’t created anything.

We play three strikers every week but create next to nothing. It doesn't matter how many strikers you have if you have no creativity, all you're doing is sacrificing numbers elsewhere.

Indeed, I would rather we get in 2 wide strikers/wingers rather than shoehorning 2 centre forwards into wide roles.

Glatzel is well off the pace again so far today.

I guess we'll see Tshimanga soon

As are Smith and Drinan. Offering nothing really.

Bit harsh on Smith IMO hes done loads of running and work today asking a lot of him to keep winning the headers from balls hoofed up to him.

Tshimanga on for Brown.

Brown isnt quite ready for the 1st team yet on that showing, a few good touches but not many.

I would get Cox on for Glatzel soon and push Cox wide left and tell him to just get crosses into the box.

Or Longelo after the midweek performance

I think Longelo will come on for Drinan or McGregor later on down the right.

I think Kirkman has been excellent for his league debut, very promising, no panic, calm and solid

Absolutely, much as he was at Wycombe too. Cain being sat in front of him has helped him too.

Wow that was poor by Barden.

Can't really complain about starting out being hard to beat.

But it a suprise the kitchen sink isn't being thrown now though.

Longelo for the carded McGregor?

Oh dear Drinan, great chance of a break.

We've got four strikers on the pitch, we just don't seem to have any idea how to get them the ball in the right place.

Longelo on for Glatzel.

Longelo for Glatz

The long ball hasnt really worked today for us.

Att: 15,751 (289 Town)

Wright on for Cain.

Missed "Rodri" today

4 mins added.

Come on then

1 mistake at the back and no creativity cost us today.

Kirkman looks done, surprised we have not seen Cox this 2nd half

I thought Cox would have come on too, Kirkman has given everything.

I don’t understand the Wright sub. Cotterill would have been more attacking surely?

Normal service has been resumed after 2 wins in a row.

Defensively we looked a lot better, however 0 shots on target

Last Saturday we finally found a way to look threatening up top and create chances, today we revert to type of the early season.  Nothing of anything up front.

XG of 0.03 and 2 touches in the Bradford box the whole game apparently. Disgusting if true, especially ending the game with 4 strikers on the pitch.

Defensively fine but one mistake, but clueless in attack. Not terrible result wise but it doesn't bode well.

 toothless and powderpuff

What is it the manager keeps saying? "Insanity is repeating the same things and expecting a different outcome". So,please explain the continuing 3 striker format

and where was the pashoon ?

Richards has done a good job on McGregor. Pointon has been lively for Bradford also.  And Bradford have edged our own worthy efforts on the press.  Always the more likely to get the break.   I might be corrected by the official stats but we've not had one attempt on goal that I recall.

For whatever reason Glatzel and Tschimanga have not shown the quality to circumvent their physical weakness or the anticipation to feed off Smith or the random loose ball and link with the midfielders.

1-0 sums up the afternoon.  Not bad defensively.  Little quality elsewhere.

Thought we would lose today, but not get hammered.

I thought Kirkman did well on debut.

Delaney snuffed out Cook. His positioning was good.

Sobowale was unfortunate as he had 2 aberrations in the game. The rest of the time he was excellent.

Cain did well defensively, but offered nothing going forward.

I think it was quality that was missing.

I will ask a Bradford season ticket holder mate what he thought of us.

 I see that the 2 other struggling clubs lost today which is helpful.

Looks like the idea has been to be more difficult to beat, but need pace in attack and an experienced goalkeeper (no criticism of either incumbent implied) in the window.  Cain was a surprise inclusion and did o.k., but would have preferred to have seen Ofobohr starting.

It really was an atrocious game of football.  Two teams bereft of anything much in terms of pace or creativity, but Bradford always looked to slightly have the edge in a battle of nothingness.  I sort of understand Smith in our team, but not how we use him.  I don't really understand anything else we try and do with the ball.  Defensively sound enough, but it's Flitcroft reinvented with less intent, awful stuff to watch.

I am not sure how much blame to apportion to each of Morfuni, Standing, Nicholls, Russell, Kiely or Kennedy.  Very few teams will look at our squad in January and think they can improve theirs with one of our players.  We certainly seem to be playing a numbers game for the hangers on to make their money, churning a bunch of crap every six months to get the agents fees (not that the club is necessarily paying them, earning it via the players contracts I expect).

we are going to get hammered by Grimsby next week. I suppose it will give the  protests a bit more spice .

Wimbledon away looks tough.

Didn't they have a few defenders out last week? That helped.

I think your wider point is the approach was different this week. Agree there. Why change it?

That was a shit 0-0 game apart from a 30 second period.

We had no shots on target & Bradford only had 2 & that would have been the shot Barden saved and the resulting goal.

The manager is "insane"?

Holloway:
- They didn't make many clear cut chances
- Sobowale made 2 mistakes. The one changed the game
- Smith booking ridiculous
- When you go 1-0 against this lot, the crowd gets into it
- We didn't force enough mistakes in their back line
- We didn't have the width. They saw what we did against Wycombe and stoipped it
- Not expecting a beautiful free flowing game up here
- They were forced errors. We didn't get the same clear cut effort
- We didn't play wide enough. Will look at January to see what we can bring in
- Maybe we have people who can get wide and cross it in. Longelo did that in the week
- There are shoots of what made us hard to beat
- But wants more in the final 3rd
- The front 3 played too narrow
- Some fantastic balls in the box from free kicks, but noone got to them
- Were they a lot better than us? No
- Disappointed but not downhearted
- Seen a shift. We are getting around the pitch better and opposition aren't tearing through us
- Cain & Kirkman: Earned the right to play again, especially in the formation Holloway wanted to play
- Cook is one of the most prolific striker. Did he get many shots today? No
- Would be talking differently if we had got a 0-0. But we lost it to tripping over the ball.
- Minturn doesn't need an operation. He has swelling in an area that it is difficult to remove. He will likely be out for weeks rather than months.

But the whole point is we aren't hard to beat. Bradford have done nothing and got the 3 points

Well yeah, we’ve probably more so beaten ourselves than we have been beaten by Bradford.
We created their only goal threat.

Sobowale boots that away & that games finishes 0-0 with no shots on target

No blame attached to the players for a largely inept display of get rid of the hand grenade.

Zero efforts on target.

The blame on this occasion lies with the bald headed cunt in the dugout unfortunately.

https://x.com/kieransprules_/status/1867984433971892457?t=1BST1NWA5-8TqPLyJMLnOA&s=19

Going well then.

Cant wiat for next week when he inevitably loses it again

He’s such a prick

He won’t be here long and if he carries on like that will end up with an heart attack.

Not sure what was said but that's not a good look

Doesn't matter who in charge tbh, no one was going to fix it overnight with the squad given. At least Holloway has shown some passion which gives it a bit more edge than the standard manager we could have.

He's correct in his interview though, aim is to make us hard to beat and not be overridden in the midfield. Really should've been a grind well earn point today.

I said beginning of the season, Kennedy mind not to recruit any left or right attacking wingers is a clusterfuck. His idea of playing through the middle with 4 lego men has royally f**ked the squad up.

Just as I was warming to Holloway.

He's just a walking contradiction, nothing he says actually makes any sense whatsoever. He spent this week telling us how Longelo, doesn't start him then after the games we had no width like we did Tuesday and actually mentions longelonagain saying he showed he can do it.... Fucking play him then.

Moans there's no width, course there isn't you got 2 fucking strikers playing side and a back for with fullbacks being told to sit back.

To top it off at 1 down he brings on 2 defenders for a striker and midfielder

I just think tactically he's inept unless he can get them to run and close down he has nothing else in the locker

I just don't get all of this.

Holloway is not the sharpest knife in the kitchen, but he seems to know his stuff. Noone gets everything right all of the time, but, more often than not he's on the mark. I think he is better that Kennedy, Gunning and Flynn were before him.

He went there today with a formation and team selection designed to come away with a point. And the team played to that plan pretty well. There were only 2 mistakes at the back (both by Sobowale) and unfortunately one of them cost us the game. Our problem was that we couldn't change and offer a threat.

I don't agree with him having a go at fans. That's just stupid. I'm not sure he knows about or is part of all the dodginess at the club. So I'm not going to tar him with that brush.

I think he has shown enough about him that he might be able to keep us up. He is not a Sheridactyl.

Lets hop we can pick up 3 points next week and aren't bottom at Christmas. I don't like the fact that there is a gap appearing now. A couple of wins and a draw over Christmas and New Year would make t hings look a bit better.

Are we going to zoom up the table? Definitely not. But, we might just get out of this.

We need to hold on to key players in the transfer windown, send the loanees back and bring in a couple of others perhaps. Then, dispense with this 3 up top nonsense (which he sort of said today) and bring a couple of players in who can carry the ball and take it past players.

Brown isn't ready yet
Cain can play in a defensive shape but offers nothing going forward
Kirkman deserves a run
McGregor has to be kept, but. will likely blow hot and cold
Delaney showed today that he can defend in the air and when the CF is not quick. But I would like to lose him and Hall for someone a bit quicker, good in the air and who can organise others.
Drinan and Glatzel offer us nothing this season.
All of the loanees can go as far as I'm concerned

Don't agree, see this as a step in the right direction, be hard to beat and get an experienced goalie and some pace up front in the window and significant  improvement will follow.  Bradford are about 11th, not much difference between the teams on show today.  Also, players are showing that team selection is going to be more competitive, some squad players looked decent today.

Not sure we can judge it just on today though. 3 Bradford fans I know have all said that's by far their worst performance at home this season.

How anyone can say we are hard to beat after just being beat is beyond me.

We have lost 4 of our last 6 league games, we aren’t hard to beat.

I have read a few people say that Holloway will not take any shit in January and will get who he wants, the reality is he is just another of Clementes' yes men & should not have been given another job after Grimsby

Nomoreheroes:

"Brown isn't ready yet
Cain can play in a defensive shape but offers nothing going forward
Kirkman deserves a run
McGregor has to be kept, but. will likely blow hot and cold
Delaney showed today that he can defend in the air and when the CF is not quick. But I would like to lose him and Hall for someone a bit quicker, good in the air and who can organise others.
Drinan and Glatzel offer us nothing this season.
All of the loanees can go as far as I'm concerned"





Agree with most of that, Brown needs to be in and out, Delaney's job was to keep Cook quiet which he did today.  Need pace especially up front, Drinan and Glatzel don't have sufficient pace only have effort.  An experienced keeper needed, means no place for Barden. Freckleton and Cotterill will likely be recalled owing to lack of game time.  I would keep Cotterill, who I thought should have replaced Brown, today, as he can shoot from distance and has skill.  Cabo's falling over stunts aren't getting any response from refs while he is not scoring, he needs to return to his home club.

I fail to see how, considering Clemente put januarys money into the summer pot didnt he to make us ‘competitve’

McGregor will be sold i should think
Wright and Kilkenny maybe?

Who is going to want to take any dead rubber off our hands anyway?

Biggest budget since Di Canio’s £5m in 2012 though ;)

This was Flitcroft football, without the microwave or synergy. Plenty of telling people if they've been naughty or nice though. Wonder if he thought about that when he started gobbing off at fans...

There was zero creative link between midfield and attack so Town could have played for 900 mins and not scored. But hey, I guess Town don't have a midfield creative option, that they could bring on for say 30mins, do they? Well it is an option they could be open to trying, if he was fucking selected. Still a waste of potential talent rotting, not even starting Piss Pot Trophy matches but let's play Cain who offers nothing {and we have Ofoborh sat on the bench} and then also ruin Brown in the process. I can only guess that McGurk is shagging Kennedy's imaginary daughter...or like any apparition, possibly it's a ghost.

Those that think Town have/had turned any corner must be drinking the same fucking juice as the Bristolian Blabberer.

At least the Grimsby fans will likely get behind the protest next week, so no doubt Hollowhead will be torn at which set of fans he wants to start on  ::)

#NaughtyList

If we get beat, I don't care whether it was hard or not.  It was still an unhappy ending . Mental!

Holloway having pointy fingers at someone in our end today, players pushing him back

I really don’t think some of you get it.

We didn’t get absolutely slaughtered and look on the edge of conceding with every attack. That, unfortunately, is progress from where we were!

The issue now is how to combine this solidity with an attacking threat.

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWr97lJCvJs

I think we do get it just some of us see it for what it is as the bigger picture it's another defeat. We only lost 2-1 to Port Vale who were flying you are going to get these games but we need to start looking like we are at least trying to win because form shows you can't trust these players to not make a mistake.

Need to get a winning mentality, play like we did against Accrington

I think I watched something different to you. It was absolute garbage all round imo. Town didn't get slaughtered correct, but Town still didn't pick up any points. At best they looked like getting one point. Yet Town need points {and especially the winning variety} and fast.

They could potentially have converted some creative midfield play into attacking threat but Hollowhead chose not to even have a creative midfielder on the bench.

….we drew both games against Accrington?

Precisely, today was a stepping stone.

I assure you, I get it . We lose and we get 0 points.

https://x.com/max_springer2/status/1868021726644433259?s=46&t=sUQ-fFgelrF5oqTmo-D8tA

'They tried as hard as they possibly could'

We didn't have a shot on target Ian. Absolutely risible shit.

Moron. 0 shots on target, Ian. Great 'effort'.

When will he fuck off?

Just like Papi Clemente he wants a bunch of happy clapping cucks. Fuck me, he's going to lose his shit big time next week then.

If that's how he responds to just ONE fan, and then takes lumps out of others that CHOSE to travel on a shite day to watch absolute garbage, the club should be fucking putting their hands their pocket and saying ''this was wank and not what we aspire to be, the next one is on us.''

You CHOOSE to manage STFC Hollowhead and get FUCKING PAID handsomely to do so, you daft cunt.

Not sure about handsomely.

Or paid for that matter!

Lolz true that, I'm sure he gets paid some way or another though  :girlgiggle:


NB: Totally unrelated comment NOT regarding STFC but I'm sure if several nightclubs up and down the country do well from certain contraband sales, then everyone will get a Christmas bonus...

Ditto. My H/O is in Bradford. Head of IT follows Warsaw home and away and the HR assistant manager supports Bratford. So I’ll get the lowdown on Monday.

But forget your H/O, HoIT and HRAM...the burning question on everyone's lips is;

 ''What does your DNA think of it?''  ;)

The DNA was apoplectic on the way back from Pompey today when we picked him up for the Xmas break. We’re going to Supermarine on the 28th to watch the Hanwell game. Fuck Clem and his apology of a club and team. Happy Christmas everyone.

 Pashoun

Indeed. HAVHC and a HNY to you and all your DNA  :D

You get paid for it Ian.
Supporters don’t and pay out.

Wish the protest was tomorrow.

"No cherries for coming a long way"!😁I think that's the first thing he's ever said that made me chuckle

He's going to get really toxic isn't he? Especially when the inevitable fall out happens. Then the ''cherries'' really will sour.

I'm a long time lurker on here as I live in Tidworth so go to the odd Swindon game with 1 of my mates and always followed the fortunes of the other Town .

We will bring a good few next week , I think we have sold 500 or 600 already the vitriol towards Holloway is very strong amongst our fanbase . There is no point in going onto my thoughts on him as I'm sure you have heard different opinions and also making up your own mind .

But we had a very similiar ownership situation to Morfuni at the time and it did get worse with relegation to the NL and without some local people who are actually pretty wealthy willing to invest and takeover we would have been in a dire situation . Things can get better and hope they do for Swindon and people are willing to buy/invest in the club , I will be wearing an orange hat next week .

Watched today but missed all the post match content so only just catching up now.

We really are in the trenches if we’re taking today as a step in the right direction. Which to be fair, we all know we are. Defensively we didn’t look horrendous but you can’t claim to be hard to beat when you’re losing matches and leaking goals at the rate we are.

Attacking wise it’s not worth talking about, absolutely nothing. Yes this squad has no wingers and natural attacking width bar playing full backs higher up the pitch, we know that, but this plan of sticking as many strikers on the pitch in a narrow area as you can and hoping for the best has proved time and time again not to work. Smith needs mobile players around him to make the best use of his ability, Drinan is an honest and hardworking player but sadly his output isn’t cutting it, Tshimanga needs creativity around him to put chances directly into him, Glatzel needs a goal to go in off of anywhere.

Regarding the post match shenanigans. Whilst I feel genuinely sorry for any outsider coming into this club right now who’s unaware of its recent history and trying to get some positivity going, there is also absolutely nothing unsurprising or even wrong with the atmosphere in the fanbase at the minute when we’re sitting in one of our lowest ever positions, suffered year on year decline and reduction in standards of our club and can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. Anyone coming into this club now needs to be able to acknowledge the position the club and its fanbase are in right now, it’s going to take a momentous shift to drag us out of this decline and not expect our fans to be a never ending output of positivity and unable to voice justified displeasure.

Yes we need to stick together, yes the team needs us, but don’t expect fans to be happy with travelling hours to see 0 shots on target and another defeat sending us towards the bottom end of the table. If any new manager is going to come in under the current circumstances and galvanise the fanbase and club, they’ll need to recognise that and be realistic with it.

Holloway’s needlessly aggressive attitude and complete ignorance of what fans are going through really grates.

Made the nationals🤣
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14193897/Premier-League-Swindon-Town-League-Two-Ian-Holloway.html

I can’t stand the guy who runs this account, but this was actually quite funny

https://x.com/lowerleaguelook/status/1868034664952439034?s=46

Ugh

Can you imagine how awful that cup of coffee would be at the training ground. Some shite cheap instant crap, in Luke warm water.

Made the mistake of searching on "Holloway rant" yesterday evening.
There's quite an impressive digital library of material available.

He has a marmite effect on me but it changes day by day.
Today? Hate it.

Only comment on the game.
Touches in the opposition box? 3.

I hear that for the best cup of coffee, you need to go to Clementes' house

Check out the slave traders forum their having lots of fun with it😁

Do you have to take club officials to away games to represent the club? Someone posted a pic of our estemeed CEO out on the beers in Bath yesterday evening.

Made good time getting back from Bradford!

Unfortunately it's what he craves. National attention even if for the wrong reasons. It's his way of remaining relevant I fear

Loves to be centre of attention😁

 :DA few on here like that mind!  ;D

Can't say this kind of stuff bothers me. Especially with this two bit excuse of a CEO. Further way from the team the better.

He's allowed a private lifev away from the FC. Just wish his professional life would follow

There seems to be a flood of "Get behind the management, players and club" comments on social media which are suspiciously similar and quite frankly, starting to get on my wick.
The suggestion that somebody is not a 'loyal supporter' if they talk out against the players and/or management is quite frankly laughable. It is not the fans fault that the club is in such a mess and the players and management should most certainly be criticised (of course within boundaries) as they are key elements to the downfall, albeit with a root cause elsewhere.

The Holloway stance of “don’t bother coming then” to fans who dare to criticise him or the team, is reminding me of the McMoan & Rikki Kunt rant on a Wilts Radio phone in when a long time ST holder called in to criticise the team, manager & style of play.
He was met with a “we don’t want your kind of fan at the club”, what one that’s had a season ticket for 30+ years.

Holloway having a row with a fan is his choice, calling them out in the media is a step too far.
He’s going to get a lot of shit on Saturday, from both sets of fans

I can’t see him getting many accolades on his 1000th league game as a manager.

I would suggest bots, but that might be giving some of our fans too much credit.

Andrew Hawes:


Good about that improved performance though.

Under current of this running through the Club.

If you have an opinion, it better be positive or you are out.

Reminds me of a previous boss, who claimed to like “brutal honesty”.
Soon turned out that it only applies if you agreed with his opinion though

Terrible way to run an organisation

Anyway....now read back.

The game.

Set up for a draw and we really were doing very well in that respect.

Smith booking very harsh indeed.

Very much a dull tit for tat midfield drudge, then the errors....

Sobs had to head it back or kick it, he got caught between three minds, trod on the ball, fluffed his kick, they shot, Barden should of done better ref the actual velocity of the shot and the rebound swept home.

As it turned out, we should of just all shook hands and walked off at that point. Neither side did anything, we huffed and puffed and Bradford soaked it up and waited for the whistle.

We are in the shit and cannot afford to just sit back and wait for a mistake or miracle. The closest we came was a superb OG attempt and we werent going to get another.

Id rather Holloway apologised for conceding late goals on the break at the end of the game as he changed things to get a goal...or at least a shot on target. Subs baffling again.....

It wasnt shit like Colchester or the first 45 at Salford but the net result of a loss is the same...zero points....

Lose to Grimsby and the Toxic Cauldron will start to bubble over......

I don't understand the whole setting up for a draw. We have proved that if we go for it we can win, comfortably. Accrington.

This, so fucking this for me too.

And ten men at Wycombe.

Me too, just don’t know what to make of the bloke.

I echo the above comments re. Holloway...

I think I know what to make of him.  Attention seeker of the maddest order

Marmite for me too.

With a sell by date of 1995.

Yep

Football is an entertainment business and he is certainly entertaining :D

About the only entertainment associated with Town for the last 2 seasons

To be fair the first 10 games (or so) under Flynn were pretty entertaining

Trouble is it was often at both ends of the pitch!

True

However,

If Flynn was backed and had an extra 4-5 proper pros in the squad which he could rotate. And was actually allowed to buy Kemp and Young when they were quite obviously available. I am sure we'd of got playoffs.

I know that's a lot of if's and buts, but I don't blame him at all for that season. The budget and squad size was absolutely pathetic. He got a new deal early on because Clem couldn't believe the miracles he was working in the first 10 games.

Yet another one with the rug pulled from underneath him after he joined

I think Flynn got a raw deal in terms of squad building, but he didn't exactly cut his cloth accordingly once his hands were tied.  He basically refused to be pragmatic when it was clear we were being over run.

Indeed, but it was entertaining, even if it was seat of the pants stuff at times.

Completely agree. As soon as we went 2 games a week but wheels flew off.