Thetownend.com

Thought I might as well start one of these for a change...

Huge night of football on Tuesday with a full programme of games in the EFL.
If we can get 6 points from the next two games (big IF but who's to say it can't be done)...the table will be starting to look very interesting indeed.

I'll go with a 2-0 home win with our Arry and Nichols on the score sheet.

Come on you bastard reds!

There's going to be a lot of tired legs after Saturday. So I'm expecting several changes but the way Holloway's got them playing together I'm no longer worried about wholesale changes between games. Being at home as well will give another little boost to their performances.

Third 1-0 on the trot. 6833 attendance including all 57 Salford fans.

Ollie Clarke has a two game suspension apparently for 10 yellows, so there's at least one change. Hopefully Delaney is fit and we don't need to rejig the defence too much.

Otherwise will be interesting to see how leggy we are / how many changes we make.

Big game, Salford not on a good run despite still being just outside the play off positions in 9th place.

They have only 1 win in the last 10 games with 6 of those ending as defeats including an 8-0 demolition at Man City in the FA Cup.

They have lost their last 3 on the bounce too.

If we win then maybe, just maybe, we could still have a run for the play offs.

Unfortnately I will only be able to watch a bit of the game as I am in Bournemouth watching Greg Davies at the BIC, but will eagerly keep checking the score all night.

I hope we get a half decent home crowd as form picks up as theres no doubt the fans can help the game and players and can go alongside the protests.

Salford have only every brought more than 100 fans once in the previous 3 games at the CG and usually way less at around 80 fans so the attendance will be effectively all Swindon fans so I hope we get behind the team and continue the protests before or after the game away from the pitch.

Delaney should come in for Clarke

Sobowale for McGregor

Cain for Freckleton at left back?

Butterworth for one of the midfielders

Glatzel for Tshimanga.

That's what i'd do anyway. We defo need to freshen it up for this one.

Not sure how we can afford to rest Kilkenny or Ofoborh. Which is a problem.

Do we need to rest 5 players? Really?

 

We could play Uwakwe. Arf

Did you watch the game? we ran ourselves into the ground. Especially Tshimanga and McGregor. Would be a massive ask to start them again on Tuesday. And then you have a game Saturday. So you need to rotate at some point.

Mcgregor and Freckleton haven't played much football recently. I'd agree that changes definitely are needed. The Walsall game was played on a heavy pitch. I definitely agree on starting Butterworth. (maybe for Nichols?) Glatzel or Westley for Tshimanga? You could swap one of Ofoborh or Kilenny for Cain in midfield and draft in Sobowale for Freckleton or McGregor.

I'd guess there will be at least 3 or 4 changes by Holloway.

Lets have a think about what happened last time he didn't change the team after they'd run themselves into the ground a few days before...

We'd rather not.

But one of us pointed out earlier that Salford lost a tough home game late on on Saturday as well as having played the midweek beforehand too.

Clarke has been a revelation at the back.  Kudos to Kennedy if it was him who made him club captain. 

Crowd will need to play their part and lift the players this Tuesday.

Have we ever beaten Salford at home?

 again , I am confident that we will grasp the 3 points with both hands. got this down as a 3 - nil win .

2 draws and a defeat

It's been 3 months since that Colchester game. You'd think the levels of fitness would be better since then, although I understand the general concern.

We owe em after that shite display up there.

Frecks nodded out for a edge of the box volley if i remember.

Yes. I'd agree older injury prone players(Clarke,Ofobohr) need a rest but I'd expect the likes of McGregor, Freckleton,Tshimanga,Kilkenny, Nicholls and Cotterill to be fresh enough to play Sat and Tuesday. 5 changes to a winning team seems excessive to me if injuries are not the issue. Maybe I'm old fashioned

Probably did us a favour, that was Kennedys last game.

I forgot Karl Robinson was their manager.   :pint:

2-1 Swindon att: 6,980 (75 Away unless any of the class of 92 can get away from their TV punditry commitments)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EG_q60XrLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey4A9fCx_Ac

Bloody hell. Joel McGregor makes me feel old.
Looks young enough to be collected from school.

Sure to get a warm reception 🤔

Completely agree. Most, excluding the injury prone players, should be able to play the odd Saturday Tuesday games. And if they can't, question should be asked about their fitness. They are professional footballers at the end of the day.

That's not the point.

It's not a question of 'if they can' it's 'if they should'

For example if you want to start McGregor tonight then presumably you'd want to start him Saturday as well.

If you think giving an 18 year old 270 minutes in a week in which he has a perfectly capable 'deputy' in Sobowale then you may as well not bother with a squad.

This is how injuries happen.

Plus he is just back from injury, and Nichols has just reached being able to do 90 minutes - you'd think Sobo and Butters would come in for that reason, + Delaney for Clarke.

That's 3 minimum.

The thing about 'how it used to be' is that everyone was the same - if your side was knackered, chances are the other team was too as nobody has mass squads like they do now. Playing the same 11 every game against teams who can rotate is just silly. The art is in doing it in a way that doesn't disrupt the team spirit or style.

Ofoborh is only 25!

I get that some fans want several players rested but these are professional footballers, since they were kids surely they have managed to play 2 times a week?

Yes some look a little tired at the end of the game but we look so much more fitter now than under Kennedy I don't think thats as big a problem as some are suggesting, although obviously our fitness guys will have a handle on things I am sure.

Yeah, fair enough but I said 5 was excessive in my opinion. Only 1 is forced

I guess we'll see adje. I, like you, prefer to retain a winning side. But the times they are a changing.

Ha, I missed out "or" before "injury prone"

True, but saying that hes not really picked up any injuries other than his historical one since hes been with us TBF.

I think we are forgetting that Holloway doesn't need reasons to change personel anyway, and his methods seem to be working, so let's just leave it to him..  How refreshing it is to say that after the last few years :D

Exactly this.

The reason we have a squad is to enable changes when necessary - this includes protecting those players who have had a history of injuries or who are returning from injury by managing game time to avoid them breaking down again. If the fitness / medical team are doing their job they will be advising Holloway regarding which players need minutes managed.
We saw this used to good effect in the Garner season when Gladwin and Williams basically alternated between Tuesday / Saturday and one was subbed for the other after 60-65mins.
Last season we saw the opposite - basically Flynn was playing exhausted players every game because of lack of alternatives, and they were breaking down as a result.
Like many older fans, I remember the 1968/69 side played 60 League/Cup games with a squad of 15, and a couple of whom played only a small number of games. 10 players played in 48 games (75% of the total). Also there was only 1 sub allowed and generally they only came on for injuries (very few tactical substitutions in those days). According to the excellent  Townenders website, in those 60 games we used only 25 subs. Those who are suggesting no changes are living in the past as the intensity / pace of the modern game means that would probably be impossible now, plus as has already been said, in those days everyone had smaller squads so were all in the same situation.

Hasn't he had historical heart issues? Perhaps his minutes/workload have to be managed?

Yes mate hence my "historical issue" comment, but he has played the full 90 mins in 4 of his last 6 appearances.

Ah fair enough, only skimmed through the comments JJ ;)

TLDNR? despite quoting the very comment itself! :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I'm a busy man these days JJ! :)

Funny you say that, I saw the other day on Townenders that Ben Gladwin is the 4th most used substitute in the clubs history (39 appearances from the bench for us). Steve White is 1st with 60 sub appearances.

Haven't seen anyone suggesting "no changes" to be fair

They're in terrible form, we're in great form... I've seen this film before, and yet somehow I feel reasonably confident.

I’m treating every game as a cup final until it’s no longer possible to sneak 7th.

Is it about a 1% chance? Yes.

But if you don’t have hope then what’s the point?

This 100%.... it's what being a fan is all about and I'm loving it....

Ripley
McGregor
Wright
Delaney
Freckleton
Ofoborh
Kilkenny
Cotterill
Nichols
Tshimanga
Smith

Only one change then, Clarke for Delaney. Not quite the five changes some of you were predicting.

Subs:

Botan Ameen
D. Butterworth
J. Bycroft
J. Cain
P. Glatzel
T. Sobowale
J. Westley

Well, we'll see how it goes. He's seen them train, so have to give the benefit of the doubt up front.

Salford have sold 26 tickets

Literally could have gone on the team bus. Literally.

Big up to the 26 for following their team.

Anyone know the lowest away attendance at the CG ever? (Excluding the Covid games).

Pretty sure that Darlington (or was it Doncaster) brought less than 10 for an evening fixture in the Macari era - And they won!

Just under half their fan base is a good turn out.

Even if nothing comes from this season, I will always enjoy seeing that prick Robinson lose against us.

Exactly right

Hadn't realised Giggs sat on the bench as DOF.

Assuming his brother isn’t with him😁

We should be 2 up already!!

How did Tshimanga and Freckleton miss there?

Will Wrights brother on the bench for Salford though…!!

Early doors but Salford don't look so much there for the taking as tied to a railway line with a train approaching.

And the train runs over the prone body for 1-0

1-0 Nicholas (first goal)

(Please carry on like this and it could be a cricket score)

 :D

10000% own goal there….

3 nil on the cards, as anticipated

It definitely wasn't going in without the deflection, but it'll get given to Nichols I'm sure.

Definitely need a second quickly as they look so shite they might score against the run of play!

Now I’m worried we are trying to hang on to 1-0!

Gone a bit limp the last 10

Longelo dangerous

Their LWB is giving McGregor problems. Longelo looks up for it too

Good call there. Bastard

1-1 No more than they deserve!

And there it is.

Some very audible comments from the referees assessors in the DRS there.

Longelo has had Freckleton on toast for the last 15 mins or so. Freckleton needs to shape up a little bit and get a bit more effective

Since we scored we appear to be playing 20 yards deeper as a team.

Ripley injured

Ripley down with a leg issue. Not obvious when he got that

Tactical injury

Going 1-0 up as early as we did was probably the worst thing we could have done…

Should have gone 2 or 3 up before they woke up!

We looked a million dollars for 15 minutes and have just stopped playing. They look very threatening down both flanks.

Adelokun looks a footballer.

Longelo misses from 2 yards!

He's looked very good outside of the six yard box mind. Clearly reminded Freckleton of how good Freckleton was before Longelo left!

Neither McGregor nor Kilkenny having a good game.

Started really well, but our full backs have been targeted really well by Salford. Must be said, McGregor had a tough game against that lad at their place and he’s struggling again tonight. Not sure on who the player is, but he’s had McGregor’s number twice this season

Think full backs need a bit of support from the players ahead of them as well.

1-1 HT

There was a good opportunity in the first 15 mins to put this game way beyond doubt. But, we sat back and let them play.

Longelo has been a threat down the right. McGregor has struggled with the fast press from their LWB. Kilkenny has been marked out of the game. Tshimanga has been moved from left to narrow right, which has left him competing for the same space as Smith. Nichols disappeared from the game after his deflected goal. Wright looks very unsure defending.

Good luck in changing that Mr Holloway! This now has Salford win written all over it.

Very poor game so far, lacking quality from both sides.  I would be thinking of Sobowale and Butterworth for McGregor and Nicholls

Bring on Butterworth. He runs at people and has a point to prove as he hates it on the bench. A great aggressive start but poor soon after going ahead.

McGregor is having an absolute mare. Ofoborh has also been poor and Cotterill & Kilkenny have been completely missing.

Holloway was too slow to change things around after they started getting more & more control but since the change they've stopped looking dangerous.

10 minutes of incredible attacking football and then it all went wrong.

Still think there's enough to get the win though.

Big chance falls to Tshimanga who... sits on the ball.

Could have done with Tshimanga staying on his feet there…

Tshimanga falls over while trying to shoot at the back post from a long throw in

Bloody hell. That's a pen!

Another chance spurned and then a strange penalty shout where McGregor tackles from behind and looks like he's going to concede a pen but I think gets held up in the turf and doesn't actually make contact?

Need the reverse angle.

And it really needs to be Sobowale time I think.

Tshimanga falls while shooting again!

Nmai roasts McGregor who fouled him in the area. Ref initially was going to give a justified penalty against us, but changed his mind!

Delaney heads into keeper’s hands

The "penalty" was a sandwedge into the pitch, luckily..  didn't touch the player.  Ironically should have been booked for diving

Sobowale and Butterworth please..

Stay on yer feet,everyone!

Smith shot saved!

Might be worth giving Westley a run out as well, must be hungry..

Good run by McGregor. Corner

Delaney shot saved

Changes coming up

If that's the key measure, Ameen is fasting...

:D

Four changes. Sobo, Glatzel, Westley and Butterworth on.

Tshimanga, Nichols and two Joels off.

Sobowale, Glatzel, Wesley & Butterworth

McGregor, Tshimanga, Nichols and someone off

Cotterill the other off

Smith!

2-1 Smith!

Glatzel's done very well to bring that under control.

Fucking hell 2-2

FFS 2-2

Fairly certain that was a scuffed shot though.

All the goals set up by deflections today, bit of an odd game.

Fuck op by Delaney. Save by Ripley onto the post and their MotM N’Mai had the tap in.

Butterworth has looked bright for us, but, it’s not looking great

That was atrocious  

Botan Ameen for Delaney. Er, that's brave

Ameen for Delaney

3-5-2 with Ameen and Butterworth the wide players I think?

Game now very frantic and mistake laden. Someone is going to score here you'd think but no idea who.

Wow! Several chances for us. Cant call this!

Only 4 mins added

Big chance Salford and another pen appeal.

A game with little quality that will go down as 2 points dropped based on what we saw.  Hey ho

Just don’t think we did enough to win that. Night and day from the performance we put in at their place though and that’s despite never really getting going tonight (those opening 10 minutes aside). Honestly can’t believe how poorly set up Kennedy had us

Enjoyed that. Decent performance,improved second half

2-2 FT

Two points dropped. Season over. Should have won it in first 15 mins.

Disappointing to concede second.

We don’t seem to be able to create clear cut chances. All of our goals of late seem to involve deflections, odd bounces etc

 oh well . Expected a few goals, but none from the visitors . should have won that one .

Good to see us continuing to mix it with the heavyweight sides.

Someone smarter than me will have to explain that game I think, I have no idea what I think about it and I watched it all. Lots of mistakes and all four goals from deflections or odd breaks of the ball.

That's L2 for you!

Odd results all over the division tonight. Top drew with bottom, Morecambe beat Wimbledon, Notts County lost, all strange.

MK and Gills both lost. The dream of relegating either or both in our last two fixtures lives on!

Walsall dropping points is no surprise
Bottle job on Stevie Gs level

Strange game, looked a litle off it.  I think Saturday's game took a lot out of them.  Fair play to Longelo, playing where he wants to, was a major threat before he was subbed.  Missed McGregor when he went off after he recovered after looking a bit vunerable early on.  Glatzel looked hungry, worth a start on Saturday?

Yeah, I thought McGregor improved massively second half

Smith:
- Disappointment with how 2nd goal was conceeded
- One of the better teams we have played
- Their number 10 was good away and very good today
- So disappointing to conceed from the kick off after losing 3 x first contacts
- Could have been 2-3 up in first 5-10 mins
- As a player you think its going to be our night
- Gaffer said we sat off and weren't brave enough
- Started 2nd half brightly
- Should have seen the game out
- Tactical changes helped a lot. Thats what the gaffer does
- Could seee we were struggling with the press. Told us what to do to counteract, which helped
- Entertaining game. Not as effective as we have been in the last few weeks. Thats becasue they were one of the better teams we have faced
- We are professionals and prepare properly
- Build for travel to Donny on friday
- Expected standards have gone up. We have made home a fortress now
- Its a draw. If we win Saturday then everyone would have taken 7 from 3 games
- Everyone can beat everyone as results have shown tonight
- 15 goals: Happy. Have been playing well despite not scoring recently. Most consistent he has been. Played well for last couple of months

Holloway:
- Fantastic game of football
- Best start we have made. Could have been 3-0 up after 15 mins. Then they changed shape
- We lose confidence as we couldnt get to the ball
- Explained why we had changed at half time. Needed to be more flexible
- We over celebrated the goal (including Holloway) which may have played a part in conceeding again
- Went for it with 4 changes and then Botan
- We have got 1 point closer to the play offs. We wanted a win
- Still unbeaten here for a while
- Finishers came on
- Delighted with the crowd
- Unfortunately we didnt get the win
- I know how to defend. I like to defend high up, attacking their back line. I'm an attacking coach
- The players don't moan about changes. They understand what we are trying to do
- Will take the point. They were very, very good.
- They have some really good players. But, so have we.
- It will feel like a win from the performance
- We are still not good enough. Holloway wants the players to be in their faces. We dont do it consistently enough. But we'll get there. But not as good as Holloway was as a player
- Gerry Francis said a good team is a team that is good at getting the ball back
- We aren't just smacking it to Harry. We are hurting their backline. Putting them under pressure. Taking less risks at the back ourselves. Our set pieces are getting better too
- We could have scored 6 against a team that is really good.
- Nichols has been invaluable. He does the horrible stuff and wins the ball back. Like him for a long time as he's a team player. Delighted for him.
- 21 points out of 30 points since Nichols has been here. Look at the difference he has made to everyone else.
- When Holloway arrived, we were wide open every time we lost the ball

I thought our set pieces were particularly poor tonight. Especially the corners

Official interviews (slightly different to above on the radio)

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpBvXi-Z3QM

Lightning start, slowly faded and I though Salford edged control of the game even if they didn't produce that much.

We looked a bit leggy to me.

None the less we found a way to go 2-1 up yet uncharacteristically these days had a comedy of errors to let them score straight away.

I don't subscribe to it being 'on', but remarkably the playoffs are a point closer at 10 with 11 to go - had that been 8 I may have raised an eyebrow Roger Moore style.

I thought McGregor really struggled last night but it's a fair bit of football after a lengthy layoff for him. I didn't see wright have the terrible game everyone else did. Freckles did ok, Delaney pick of the bunch.

Midfield Offy put in some crunchers and was fairly good. Kilkenny gets through some work. Unfortunately coterill was fairly anonymous and Nichols only so so. Tshimanga was back to normal and Smith was good.

Ripley is a breath of fresh air.

All in all a mediocre night and a game we didn't deserve to win.

Tshimanga and Cotterill trying to play as wide forwards is a very tough watch. We improved a lot after scrapping that.

If Holloway long term wants to play 2 forwards either side of Smith, that is the area we need the most focus on in the summer.

We need quick wingers who can take people on and stretch the game. More service into Smith.

That Longelo looked alright. Perhaps we should sign him?

I know we scored from a corner but i really wish Wright would stop taking them. With his height he should be in the box.

Think we missed Clarke last night.
Wright defended well but also gave the ball away in some eye watering areas. To be fair a few players did. I don't buy all this tired/leggy talk, Salford played Saturday too but they were constantly snapping at our heals.

They did change 3 players though. Their most dangerous player was one of those and the guy who marked Nichols out of the game after 12 minutes was another.
I've obviously not seen their game but did they run as much as we did Saturday? Were they all out on their feet at the final whistle?

The number of individual unforced errors, misplaced passes, air kicks etc showed mentally they weren't quite right last night. Considering how well we've been playing the only reason I can see for that is they were making errors due to tiredness, a well documented phenomena.

For me Holloway got it wrong last night. A few fresh legs & minds and quicker in changing the formation as soon as they got on top of us.
It's rather nice though that we're now at the stage where disappointment is now felt only getting a draw against a team above us in the league.

Yeah, they switched it. Thought we could have done with the subs in the 30th min rather than the 66th. Butterworth's first move led to our 2nd goal.

Almost exactly what I said leaving the ground.
We'd have been ecstatic with that in December

Started off like a house on fire. First 15 all over them. Unfortunately I suspect they tweaked their tactics and Salford probably edged the rest of the half. Their number 10, Nmai was a constant menace and was making Mcgregor look very silly at times. To be fair he improved second half. I thought also Longelo looked particularly threatening. Thankfully not from 2 yards out!

Couple of 'memorable moments second half. Delaney failing to stop the ball going past him for their immediate equaliser and McGregor kicking the ground instead of Nmai's leg. In real time I thought it was a stone waller. Our groundsman surely gets kudos for that!

Hartlepool in 1984 bright 3 fans for a 12.30 KO on Sunday March 31st, 1985 in a total crowd of 2,215. It was a shit game and pretty cold too that day, we won but that was the season before we became good under Macari.

You are getting mistaken with the lowest attendance at the CG for a league game mate against Darligton the year before in 1984 when we had just 1,681 (I was the 1 on the end!) even Darlington brought about 30 that day.

Sounds like I didnt miss much, still we didnt lose I guess. Onwards and upwards.

Just 3 defeats in the last 17 league games including 9 wins is a very admirable return, all credit to Holloway and as others have said that felt like a downer only getting a draw to a team 4 places above us int he table who have a huge budget.

How far we have come from that shitty night away at Colchester early in December.

Just watched the highlights. My favourite part was hearing a town fan berate the linesman for supposedly missing an offside for Salford's first. Baffling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LhMO2ho4fQ

Agreed, albeit do they actually have that big a budget any more, get the impression that the 'Class of' lot have essentially lost interest in the whole shooting match, I think Giggs is only DoF 'cos he has feck all else to do after all the adultery/assault stuff made him pretty much persona non grata in the media.

Apparently they still have a budget of around £3m (ours is said to be £2.2m) only Bradford, MKD, Gills and Port Vale said to be higher this season.

Don't think either team could complain if the other won tonight. I thought we rallied well after HT and created some decent chances. With 15 games to go, I'm personally not giving up hope yet.Dont think we need to fear any team from now on, everyone's dropping points.

We don't have 15 games to go, unfortunately.

Ha,yeah misprint. 11. Still hopeful

Weirdly after loads of wins and the gap to 7th being etternally 11 points, with a draw it has reduced to 10.

Obviously others could win games in hand to ruin that but we are on same number of games as Crewe in 7th currently.

Need to win every other game this month and at least cut that in half to keep the pressure on I think.

Our remaining fixtures aren't disastrous. Ultimately I can't see us getting into the play-offs but I remain hopeful. Ultimately I'd rather end the season how we are, versus what could have been given our awful start to the season.

Yep, many people thought,understandably, that the season was over in December and we were dead certs to go down so 11 games is still something to cling on to I feel

Spirit of Donny Rovers from last season!

Salford were very good with the ball at their feet last night- a lot of penetrating runs and riding tackles well.

One of the better sides we have come up against this season.

Whoda' thunk Longelo could be a threat eh?

I thought a draw was probably a fair result - it was a pleasant surprise that both teams were still trying to win the game even in stoppage time - rather than one side settling for a draw. I guess it's the time of the season where a point didn't really suit either side.
I'm not sure whether the pitch is part of the problem (not a criticism of the groundsman, as he's had some dreadful weather to contend with) but there were a lot of bobbles / misplaced passes etc.
In terms of individuals - Ripley adds a layer of confidence to the defence, Sobowale's first touch was poor, MacGregor demonstrated he is better as a wing back than as a full back (positionally and it enables him to contribute more in attacking positions), Ofoborh is becoming indispensable in that defensive screen / holding midfield role and having Smith is critical up front for us, particularly with Drinan injured. I though a few players looked tired in the second half, and would have made a couple of the changes earlier.  
Also, when he's not available Clarke's importance to the side is highlighted.

Salford were quick on the break and Longelo and N'mai caused us problems. I don't understand why Longelo went with no fee, other than it was a way to free up some wages.

Although (as Holloway pointed out post match) other results meant we're a point closer to the play offs, I don't think there are enough games left to close the gap.
Still, after Colchester away I thought we were doomed - so credit to the manager, coaches and squad for the improvement.

 
 

Longelo as a wide right forward looks a very different proposition to how he did as a left wing back.

That said, Salford fans all think that was his best performance for them so I'm not sure we've really missed on there so much as just seen an average player have a good day.

“Ofoborh is becoming indispensable in that defensive screen position”.

That quote in itself is another thing to beat Kennedy with.
I think the majority of fans thought that was/could be the case but Kennedy wouldn’t play him & tried to pack him off on loan.

It would be fair to say that the last three months have been absolutely dreadful for Mark Kennedy's reputation. This is the same squad, more or less, and every single player in it is playing twice as well as they did under him.

Ollie has united the players into a team that care about each other, fair play to him (and them).

Makes you wonder about Saidou Khan if he was still here

Under Kennedy most struggled to see any glimmer of quality in the team outside of Harry Smith with how poorly we were playing, but Ofoborh was clearly another one. The fact Kennedy couldn't see that he was the sort of thing we needs convinced me he'll never be a successful football manager at any level worth talking about.

That and the decable in the game where the oppo were without a keeper and we wouldn't shoot. How we might rue those dropped points.

I will always maintain Kennedy should have been sacked after that Barlow game. It was utterly embarrassing & the worst managerial performance I've ever seen at Swindon.
Hell if it had been me in charged he'd have been told he was sacked on the whistle & not allowed to enter the changing room, let alone get on the team bus.

I can't help but wonder what difference those extra 8 games he got could have made to our season.



On a separate note I do feel Russel may have been a unfairly judged by most of us, myself included, on his player recruitment model. Most of his signings are playing well now under Holloway. His managerial choice is what's cost us this season.

I think the role of a manager in being able to communicate to his players and actually motivate them is often ignored these days.

Players are only human and all respond to the right motivation, Kennedy just seemed to let the players get on with that themselves, Holloway is an old school manager wh knows that with the right motivation style for each player he will get the best from them.

Its the most clueless I've ever seen a football manager and coming out and saying you can't just shoot from anywhere after was crazy. Its a comment from the final boss on steroids of the tippy tappy youth coach pep wanabee managers that are utterly terrorising the lower leagues right now.

I'm so thankful we're away from that at the moment.

Mark Kennedy was a Manchester City academy coach,  He was asking League Two players to play in the manner of Pep. As written in the "Book of Clough", "Thou shall not ask a player to do something they are not capable of."  Holloway's first tactical change was to de-complicate. His second was to build team spirit and togeherness. His third was to bring in the few players that he could with experience.  Now, many of the team, are playing for contracts for next season.  Players want to play for Swindon, it is their opportunity to experience success in front of decent gates.  Continuity, rather than playoffs, is now key. 

Just read Karl Robinsons interview.

What a dickhead.

Says he doesnt like Swindon because of his Oxford connections.

Someone needs to forget where their career started really

He was here under Steve McMahon, I can believe that he didn't enjoy it much.

He's allowed to not like Swindon. God knows we don't like him!

Changed his tune tbf, he used to be pretty positive about us and how much he loved it here.

He'd take a job here if he was offered it. No doubt in my mind.

You have to change your tune at Oxford. They live in fantasy land where James Constable wasn't a Swindon fan remember?

They've probably convinced themselves Billy Bodin was never actually Swindon as well the deluded cunts.

FIFY.

Meh, who cares. If he's Oxford its the right thing not to like us.

I mean he’s a born & bred scouser right?

He is, but enjoying his time his time here/never liking us is very James Constable swindon fan/spurs fan never supported Swindon.

Its the Oxford version of reality vs actual reality.

There's the Pox/Scouser connection, John Aldridge etc.

Couldn't care less what the James Cordon look alike has to say

Hes managed three odious clubs in the EFL....give him credit for the hat trick!

He forgets to mention the abuse the piss stains gave him and his family before he got sacked.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64854951