Thetownend.com

**UPDATED BY NEMO** - 28/06/2022

THE CURRENT SQUAD

OUT OF CONTRACT
New contract decisions pending

2. Akin Odimayo (DRC)
10. Jack Payne (AMRLC)
24. Rob Hunt (D/WBRL)
29. Harry Parsons (ST)

8. Jordan Lyden (MC) - no contract offer but training with the club to regain fitness

UNDER CONTRACT
Contract lengths mostly not announced, but expect 2023 unless stated

3. Ellis Iandolo (DL/MC)
6. Mathieu Baudry (DC) - 2023 confirmed
7. Ben Gladwin (MC)
11. Harry McKirdy (AM/ST)
12. Lewis Ward (GK)
20. Jonny Williams (AMLC)
25. Louis Reed (MC)
28. Ricky Aguiar (MC)
30. Mo Dabre (MF)
32. George Cowmeadow (AML/ST)
34. Harrison Minturn (DC)
TBC. Tyrese Shade (D/MR) -2024
TBC. Sol Brynn (GK) - Season long loan
TBC. Oscar Massey (ST)
TBC. Reece Devine (DL) - 2024


YOUTH PLAYERS
Some may have been released/offered pro terms, the club has not yet announced - does anyone ITK have any idea on these? Presumably there's a new intake too. It seems like they don't even have a squad section on the website anymore.

31. Donny Gordon
33. Levi Francis
35. Callum Winchcombe
36. Anton Dworzak
37. Harvey Fox
38. Tom Wynn-Davis
39. Jed Afenyo
40. Jacob Bunch

Esajas, Kerrouche and Lanzano will either be sold or have their contracts paid up as early as possible.

I think Magera will be given pre-season to prove a point and will either stay or go in August.

Phil Smith will be kept as number 2 - which Bedwell as the youth keeper, meaning no deal for Scott. I expect McEvely to come in and thus Kennedy to go. As N.Thompson has been injured for a spell I think he will be given a short term 'prove yourself' extension.

Gabilondo is an odd one. He's played well in place then gone missing and then play well again for a bit. I'd have said he was one his way out - however, he was announced out onto the pitch yesterday which means he received a medal, correct? despite only 4(+6) games. Where as personal feelings aside you can argue that Kerrouche contributed more but didnt.

I know they werent there but I wonder if a medal was kept back for Cibocchi or Billy Bodin (who for the record I thought was out of contract at the end of the season?) or even Magera, Jervis and Ridehalgh who all played more so then McEvely & Holmes.

Where was Cibocchi because he went out him them last night did he not?

I was under the impression he was injured, quite seriously.

He left the gym with his leg strapped up in an ambulance but the club have mentioned nothing about it and Cibo hasnt played since.

No idea if he was out last night...

that midfield looks a bit weak for league 1

I can see 11 players in that list that I believe will be on their way.

Name the eleven Berniman.

For what it is worth, this is what I think

CONTRACTED

GOALKEEPERS

Leigh Bedwell - Out
Wes Foderingham
Mattia Lanzano - Out

DEFENDERS

Paul Caddis
Alessandro Cibocchi - Out
Joe Devera
Aden Flint
Alan McCormack

MIDFIELDERS

Lee Cox - Out
Raffa De Vita
Etiënne Esajas - Out
Simon Ferry
Oliver Risser
Matt Ritchie
Luke Rooney
Jonathan Smith

FORWARDS

Paul Benson
Billy Bodin - Out
Alan Connell - Out (Unfortunately PDC doesn't seem to like him - Hope he stays!)
Mehdi Kerrouche - Out
Lukáš Magera
Miles Storey - Out

OUT OF CONTRACT

Lander Gabilondo - Out
Callum Kennedy - Out
Abdul Said - Out
Mark Scott - Out
Phil Smith
Nathan Thompson - Out

Bedwell has signed a new contract.

Alan Connell's career suggests that he's had this problem quite often. Popular with supporters but easy for clubs to dispose of.

Dear oh dear. Bedwell & Storey only signed a contract a week ago. If PDC was going to get rid do you think that he would have bothered signing them to one year contracts?

Personally I’d let all but one of the ‘out of contract lot’ go. I don’t believe there is enough potential in the young-uns plus the older ones can easily be replaced or not good enough.

I’d sign smith up again for another season and let Lanzano go

Defenders: we need 2 x left back – a first teamer and a backup. Jay Mc can be the first teamer

Midfield: release easyjet. I’m not sure if cox,  smith and risser will be good enough for league one. I think we need a championship class player, maybe two,  to partner ferry in the middle – so maybe one or two of those three can be backup.

Forwards: let Kerrouche go. If PdC isn’t going to give connnell a proper chance if he plays well then he might as well be sold of too. Give Magera a chance, but have a replacement in mind if things don’t work out come nearer the end of the transfer window. We need a proper partnership next season, a partnership that will piss all over everyone.

I think magera would do better in a higher league.

I reckon kennedy, risser and de vita will stay.

Mcevely to sign.

Lanzano, easyjet, kerrouche all to go.

Cox is injured isnt he?

I think we've all learnt not to second guess Paolo. We'll have many a surprise over the next few months...

and whilst Magera may have somthing to offer, I'd be astonished if he wears a Town shirt again.

They are all shit...release them all :D

did he leave on bad terms? I can't remember. i hope he's given a chance as it looked like it was just a confidence issue this season

I didn't know they signed and that surprises me  :-[

BTW - You are quick to highlight my error, yet you don't come up with your own thoughts on who stays / goes. It's easy to only focus on criticality  ::)

After a Paolo pre-season, I feel that Cox and Magera will become key first teamers. Cox has looked classy everytime he has come one and it is undoubted that Magera has bags of talent, and now he is in a league where there is slightly less pressing and pressure, he may flourish.

No he didn't, he just wasn't very good

Magera is wank.

It's easy when it's you.

What reason did you have to release Bedwell? Seen him play much?

I think the nucleus of our squad will remain but we definitely need to strengthen upfront and in centre midfield.

I think there's as much chance of me making a first team appearance next season as Magera.

Think around a 1/3 of them will go.

I dunno.

I think Paolo thinks there is something there. He missed pre-season played well against Vale and got injured. Never quite got too much of a run going.

Think he will be given pre-season - but who knows apart from Paolo.

Absolute top bloke though Magera - not that it counts for anything football wise.

GOALKEEPERS

Mattia Lanzano

DEFENDERS

Alessandro Cibocchi

MIDFIELDERS

Etiënne Esajas

FORWARDS

Alan Connell
Mehdi Kerrouche
Lukáš Magera

OUT OF CONTRACT

Lander Gabilondo
Callum Kennedy
Abdul Said
Mark Scott
Phil Smith

I'm sure Billy Bodin is out of contract

It's difficult to form an opinion on Cox, as have seen very little of him.  A couple of people have put him on the 'out' list, but hasn't he been missing through injury?

I like Smith and think he has the potential to become a really good player.  He's still quite young and I think some of the inconsistencies in his game will improve.  Ferry looks more at ease with Smith alongside him.

Risser has been poor for a fair few games now, I'm not sure why he's played in front of Smith tbh.  He's far too slow and I don't think the effort he puts in will be enough. League 1 will be a step too high for him imo.

The players that aren't wanted, but are still out of contract could be a slight problem.  Most are foreign, which probably means they'll be more difficult to move on.  It's not as if they're getting a run out anywhere to be spotted either.  Will the board make the money available to pay a number of players off, I'm not sure?

Think he will go personally.

Not exactly setting the world alight at Crewe

http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=168&fid=90&sty=2&act=1&mid=2114963472

Think he will go aswell along with his dad.

Torquay will take him

To answer your question, no I haven't seem much of Bedwell, that's why I assumed he had no future.

Now if you don't want to contribute to the thread and come up with your list, why come on to this thread?

Oh, it is so you can critisise other people's comments.  :yeahright:

Wouldn't be surprised to see Bostock, McEverley and Holmes added to that list plus Jake Jervis.

Jervis ?

No thanks.

Agree with Ralphy re: Jervis.

We need to be looking at someone who isn't getting a look in at a Championship Club who would be willing to drop a division!

I didn't say I 'wanted' Jervis. I said I wouldn't be surprised. Think that PDC seemed to rate him, while he's been burned by 3 other big lumps in Tehoue, Clarke and Magera.

OUT OF CONTRACT

Billy Bodin - LOAN OUT
Lander Gabilondo - OUT
Callum Kennedy - OUT
Abdul Said - OUT
Mark Scott - OUT
Phil Smith
Nathan Thompson - LOAN OUT

CONTRACTED

GOALKEEPERS

Leigh Bedwell - LOAN OUT
Wes Foderingham
Mattia Lanzano - OUT

Fodders to start with Smith as back up. I would then loan Bedwell out to get experience and see how he does.

DEFENDERS

Paul Caddis
Alessandro Cibocchi - OUT
Joe Devera
Aden Flint
Alan McCormack

I hope we sign McEverly with him and Caddis as the starting full backs. CB is interesting. Whilst McCormack has been probably player of the season, when he makes is runs through the middle he looks so dangerous, so would love to see him in CM. I also think he struggles when we play teams with 2 big strikers. But I would still be more than happy with him at CB, thats just a though. Flint and Devera are both good enough as well and our defensive record speaks for its self, so other than back up in these positions the defence is looking good.

MIDFIELDERS

Lee Cox - OUT
Raffa De Vita - OUT
Etiënne Esajas - OUT
Simon Ferry
Oliver Risser - OUT
Matt Ritchie
Luke Rooney
Jonathan Smith - OUT

Holmes hasn't impressed me except when he played for Oxford against us. I personally prefer Rooney on the left and Ritchie on the right. But I think Holmes could do a job as a back up winger, but needs to improve. De Vita has done a job, but he isn't good enough to be in a promotion pushing league one side. CM is the tough one for me. Ive already mentioned I would like to see McCormack play there, but perhaps the chance of having Bostock he should stay in defence. This man looks class and I really hope we at least get him on loan next season. Such a threat to have through the middle and he looks like he will score goals. Which is my one concern with Ferry. Whilst he is one of our best players, his lack of shooting ability worries me and if we were to get a big strong holding CM in would he be on the bench? I definately think we need a strong big CM in the holding role, Smith and Risser do nothing for me.

FORWARDS

Paul Benson
Alan Connell
Mehdi Kerrouche - OUT
Lukáš Magera - OUT
Miles Storey - LOAN OUT

This is the position which will define our season. Firstly I would loan out all the youngsters, especially Bodin and Storey. We dont want to throw out home grown talent so young, but they need to be out there getting games as neither are good enough to be in the team at the start of next season. We need to sign a strike partnership next season that will score 40+ goals, its as simple as that. If we had the Austin/Paynter partnership next year then we are looking at a top 6 finish. If we dont improve in this position we will be lower middle table. Connell has proven to be a good impact sub and Benson will start some games and come off the bench at times too.

Lots of dead wood to shift in the summer in my opinion

Lanzano
Kennedy
Esajas
Risser
Thompson
Cox
Gabilondo
De Vita
P Smith
Cibocchi
Kerrouche
Bodin
Magera

We need a lot to challenge at the right end again.

Need a good back up for Fodds, preferably a young lad

Get McEvely would be excellent, struggle to see too many better LB's in league one. Need a proper CB with higher level experience as well and cover at full backs.

Midfield, if they take Holmes (not sure i would) they need one more winger (right footed) as a starter as not sure Holmes or Rooney will cut it. The CM needs a massive rethink. Big fan of Ferry but he gets bullied some games and doesnt score enough to be the creative player, fits well in the new 4-2-3-1 we are playing though. Need a new Douglass as J Smith will be back up. Getting Bostock on loan again would be brilliant as the one off the front player.

Forwards - they need 2 new players here. Benson will play some games but at 32/33 wont be a 20 goal man in league one. Connell is ok as back up but they need two top forwards to compete. Our best years have had Cox or Parkin or Austin or Mooney or Paynter, and we've got nothing close to that at the moment.

If the ambitions are to challenge for promotion its going to be another busy summer and i reckon we need 9/10 new players. Good thing is PDC likes a signing so its possible. Lets hope his good to bad signing ration picks up a little though and we get rid of some of the dross we currently have.

Why do people keep saying Cox?

Was it not recently found he is injured and NOT out of favour?

I really want Kerrouche to stay. Glad he was out there celebrating on Saturday.

Exactly! and with the fee we paid for him, its not worth budging him out on the cheap when he clearly has good potential.

Spot on, also cancelling players contracts before they end will cost us vast amounts as we will have to pay them up in full unless they accept a mutual cancellation which with greedy footballers hardly ever happens.

So if we cancel easyjets contract and he has signed on £3,000 per week and has a year left on his contract then we will have to pay £150,000 in compensation. Obviously not all players will be on such high wages but you can bet that Risser, Easyjet, Magera, Kerrouche, Gabilondo and Smith would be on good wages. Add that up between the 13 or 14 players that (for example) Give us an S has suggested then it will be in the millions of pounds level.

why J Smith i think hes done alright this season can always improve, dont see why we need to move him on, scored more than douglas thats something

I'm not fussed about Holmes to be honest, (Unless we lose Ritchie),there must be some development in Rooney once he's had a good preseason in him.

I think Cox should be an asset once healthy.

I don't see what benefit there is to making huge changes to the squad. We have a good nucleus of players here and we saw at the start of this season the time it can take for a new team to gel. I don't really think we need to go through that again.

Genuine question: Did the likes of Swansea and Hull have a high turnover of players when they made their way up the leagues?

I'm pretty much of this opinion at the moment. Our performances against teams from higher leagues this season would indicate we're not a million miles from being competitive.

There are probably a couple of areas - CM and ST spring to mind - where the first XI could probably do with one or two stronger players but I don't think another summer with double digits of players in and out would be necessary or helpful.

People have commented throughout the season that the spirit and togetherness of the side marks it out from last year's group, why would you want to disrupt that too much?

Let all the out of contract players go except Bodin.

Add Mcevely and Bostock (and maybe Holmes) and then we are just looking to add a goalscorer to go alongside Benson - but we all know that the goalscorer bit is always the hardest.

If bostock stays on another season, do you think we'll change the system slightly for him? so he can play behind the main striker? thats the only place hi see him playing to be fair

He managed to get himself in some good positions in the box on saturday, he was just let down by his finishing a bit. With the quality of some of his passing if he could become a bit more clinical don't see why he couldn't be a decent number 10 at league 1 level.

Have been impressed with McEveley on the few occasions I have seen him. Hope he signs, looks like he'll be a classy addition.

Bostock was very impressive on Saturday and a season long loan for him would be a good piece of business.

I'd bin Risser as well. Everytime I have seen him play he has been poor. I thought Smith was much better in the time he was on the field than Risser.

It is certainly going to be interesting though!!

I feel sorry for Risser.

He's the guy that gets groans from some fans every time he does something but when other more popular players do the same things, they get no form of abuse.

I think there's a place for Risser but it's probably not as a regular.

There was a game where Risser was forced to play centreback, I can't remember agaisnt who, but he played very well got man of the match in the end, if he built on that performance at centreback he could be a decent back-up.

I don't feel sorry for Risser, and I don't think the groans are any louder if he misplaces a pass than if Ferry misplaces a pass - just that it happens more often.

Sometimes 100% effort is let down by a lack of talent.

His centre back role was certainly improving... then he scored that own goal and that was that.

get rid of Foderingham & bring in David James

Lets not forget Marlon Packs imminent arrival ;D

What's with the whole Marlon Pack thing?

Is it because he's good?
Is it because he's Ritchie's chum?
Is it because we're actually interested in him?

In a nutshell?! All of them!!

Ok, so we have a few fringe players that if we recieved approaches then perhaps we would listen, I'd also let the out of contract players other than Smith leave as I think he can be decent cover for Wes.

I cannot help though thinking that we will end up having to sell one of our better players to ensure we keep the rest of them, I know what Wray has said about not selling but if we have provided PDC with quite a bit of money this season and he is going to want more for next season the money has to come from somewhere and once we have sold one player for e.g. £2m then we can say nobody else is for sale regardless of offer as we dont need the money.

Our priority has to be though to do our best to keep, Wes, Caddis, Ferry and hopefully Ritchie,and then probably Flint & McCormack and Devera our defence has been solid this season and should be good enough for L1

Somewhere like our board's very deep pockets, perhaps?

Be gutted to see Storey go....he tore Crawley a new Arse that night.

Why would that happen when he's just signed a contract?

I didnt say to cancel all their contracts, that would be ridiculous. But attempt to sell the players. I would hope most footballers would still choose first team football over money so if we can find clubs for at least some of these players then its better than them wasting a season of their career and clogging up our wage bill. They simply aren't good enough to be in a league one side, especially because our ambition will be a top 6 finish.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure that's the case.

Have the club indicated that negotiations could start regarding contract extensions for the players with one year left? 

I think PDC will want to get rid of a lot of players over the summer especially after the antics from the weekend before.

We haven't played superbly for a while, but have grinded out results.

Yeah, we ground out a gritty 5-0 win on Saturday.

Apart from Sat you fool...you know what I mean.

A side question: I read somewhere that the Football League were going back to seven subs next season... Is this true?

Apparently

Hehe, I knew what you meant ;)

I tend to agree, but with injuries (Ritchie, Caddis, Benson) over the past few weeks and with the whole Paolo dropping the players for a night out debacle, the first XI has not been at it's strongest.

Leave that to DV won't you ?

Will be interesting to see what happens with Bostock. I'm sure PDC wants him (tried to get him on loan earlier in the season) and he fills the attacking midfielder role which we have been missing and adds another option (and PDC loves options).

Difficult to read how Tottenham will play it though. All of his previous loan spells have been disasters due to his attitude, yet he seems to have possibly turned that corner now with us. He only has a year left on his contract with them and all he really has is the great potential tag from a few years back having never really delivered.

Got to be a good chance of a season long loan (with Tottenham giving him a year or two extension first) but I wouldn't rule out a permanent signing either as it's possible Tottenham have run out of patience and will cut him loose.

Fuck me, someone's hormonal. Time of the month?

I keep thinking he must have been at the very least slightly hard done by being given this tag. His attitude has been first class since he's been here and as far as we know just kept his head down without being in the team straight away.

Well Harry not getting the England job must help us in this instance.

Not at all, just say it as I see it

Yeah, that's what I was doing too...

Yep, but they are not putting their hard earned money in for the love of it they are going to want it back one day, the ground redevelopment will obviously help them to see a return it also keep the debts down as it all goes down as money owed.

Just trying to inject a bit of reality into the situation

People don't get a return from football. I'm sure they know that

I read up on him on some forums and it was pretty consistent, plus at least one club decided against extending his loan. The interview with him backed it up as well, came across that he knew he'd been a bit of a twat and it was time to get his head down as he was running out of chances.

Can't be easy for him though, being billed as the next big thing and then it not working out must be hard to handle. Again, you have to question the people advising him, moving to Tottenham was probably the worst thing he could have done.

Its always better to get first team footballer at a smaller club than to play under 18s and reserve football for a big Premiership Club.

Should have stayed at Palace still about now...

From a football point of view, yes. From a bank balance point of view, no.

Don't know if that was the motivator for him. I just think of Henshall's move to City. He'll get better coaching there but will he really break into the City first team. I just can't see it. But he'll probably be minted.

The point is that they don't haveto sell first in order to buy

They can buy players with a view to selling at a later date without having to pop down to the pawn shop to pay the leccy bill in the mean time. They'll get their money back in time. The likes of Ritchie, Ferry and Caddis will (very likely) be sold, at a tidy profit, and the board have no reason to be in a rush to get the money back quickly.

Those 3 players mentioned will be our biggest signings of the summer if they all sign new deals.

...and whats Henshall done since? nothing yet.

Plus, short term he might be minted - but if he doesnt develop and ends up falling down the leagues then he's losing out on earnings he might have got if he'd worked his way up instead of down.

Of course, nothing is as black and white as that but you get the point.

Probably not minted in terms of set up for llife but certainly more cash than a typical 18-21 year old could even imagine having.

Even if he doesn't break into City 1st team (which I agree is highly unlikely) but with the better coaching must expect to have a better chance of developing a career at prem / championship level than if he'd stayed at Swindon.

I agree, he's got a reasonable wedge and better coaching. And that seems to be more important than proving himself on the pitch and working his way up the leagues. Take it up front and hope he gets something on the way down.

And I reckon that is why the likes of Paul Benson show 1000 times more commitment and effort than the likes of Frank Nouble. The latter appreciates it more.

At the end of the day if the attitude isn't there, regardless of talent and help via quality coaching / advice etc. then its a rare player who will succeed.
I guess the point is that lads might get their heads turned being at a top club and think they've made it when they're just starting, but that probably happens with kids at Swindon too!

Definitely. But if they do move on then they deserve a lot of credit from us fans. They were least culpable in last years shambles yet had enough bollocks to stay and put it right.

They still have a year left?

I can see....

A) Contracts extended
or
B) Being sold

I think it's fair to say that if the players are not willing for A, then he will fully endorse B.

Yup, in fact a LOT of our first team squad only have a year left. McCormack, Devera, Flint, Smith, De Vita, Connell + those 3.

I would certainly hope that the club won't review all of those contracts in January.

I have no doubt they would have learned from what happened with Billy Paynter

The mood is good, the time is now.

That DV will go on about it for the next 6 months ?

:)

We let him go on a free and the following season got relegated.

A Paolo pre-season and he'd still do a job for us in L1

I think certainly for Ferry, Ritchie & Caddis we need to either extend their contracts or sell them this summer.
Otherwise we'll either end up losing a la Paynter or selling in the Jan window at a cut price when there's little opportunity to replace adequately.

Sell in January if need be. No need to dismantle this team.

I can't imagine Stevenage dismantled & rebuilt their squad after promotion, and it doesn't appear to have caused them too many problems.

There are obviously some players that are done as they haven't been involved with the first team squad for a while (Easyjet, Kerrouche, Lanzano and some others), but I can see most of the current squad still being here at the start of the season.

Out of interest, how much did we pay for Matt Ritchie?

I remember the figure 300k. Somewhere around that maybe?

It was undisclosed but rumoured to be approx £200K (according to swindon-town-fc.co.uk)

That much?

I only thought it was something like 50k and addons

I heard from a Pompey fan it was £100k up front plus add ons up to £200k.

Going back to Bostock, I was with someone yesterday who knows him very well indeed, ad he said he was enjoying being here and would be ready to stay for next season (where he has been very unhappy with other loans).  He also said (with some professional knowledge and experience) that he is the best player he has seen in that position (behind the striker) and should really (and could) be playing in top-class European team - France or Italy, which would probably suit his skill and style better - in a relatively short time.

Sounds like john has a very good agent

Bostock isn't going to get close to the Spurs line-up so we shall see.

Perhaps offer them a new contract with the proviso that they can leave if we are not challenging and a good offer is made for them, cant risk them only having a year left then leaving for nowt

Pretty sure he is not his agent (could be wrong), but he would have no particular reason for 'selling' him to me - we were talking about something totally different...  Anyway, as Costanza says, we shall see....

Retained list can't be that far away now.

Hopefully securing the services of Holmes and McEveley won't be a drawn out affair.

Holmes has disappointed me in most of the games I've seen him play, hopefully after a Paolo pre-season he can improve.

Saying that, I might just have had very high expectations of him :hmmm:

I think he looks better on the right, when he switched to the left he was much less effective.
I think this is partly because he always has to cut inside which is easier to defend.
Just remember how much better Ritchie looks on the left when he has Caddis overlapping, when that wasn't an option he (and we as a team), looked far more predicatble.

The way he beat the Port Vale FB and the cross for the third goal was very good.

Have you got your lefts and rights mixed up?  ;)

Oops, That's what you get for being a defender  :-[

So the first official player out of the door is Abdul Said. Please hold back your posts of shock.

 :eek:

Billy Bodin has been called up as standby for the Welsh senior squad for friendly v Mexico on May 27 #stfc. Fantastic achievement

Pleased for him, his old man will be well chuffed if he gets in.

Probably doesn't reflect well on the depth on their squad though.

Same date as the L2 play off final which he could be involved in with Crewe.  Potential dilemma...

Good signs for Bodin's international future.

Can't see him staying at Town beyond the summer though.

Well shut my mouth.

Update made. Can this thread be stickied or whatever the kids call it?

Looks like Phil Smith is leaving. Was he out of contract?

philip smith ‏ @smudgeegghead
A truly horrible day!! But could be the best thing in the world to happen!

Just read that myself.  On one hand it would be a shame to see a loyal servant of the club leave, but on the other hand I can't see him ousting Wes anytime soon.

If he does leave, I wish him the best going forward.

Maybe PDC fancies Leigh Bedwell to be good enough as our reserve keeper.

david james... ;)

You expect him to play up front?

Been a good servant for the club and, despite being somewhat of a permanent scapegoat with some fans, is a decent 'keeper. I know I for one will never forget that night at The Valley. All the best Smithy!

He had to move on, the scapegoating got out of hand at some times when he played.  It will do him good as he is good enough to be a first choice at a Lge 2 club, maybe even some lge 1 clubs.

My lad will be disappointed if true, he just started helping with fitc coaching.

I'd have kept him as a #2 if he was happy to take that on. Good keeper when on form and confident, helped us to Wembley twice too.

2 years for billy bodin apparently

Sad news about Phil Smith leaving, great servant to the club. I would have kept him as back up to Wes personally.

Is this confirmed?

BEWARE David James BEWARE

Would like to keep him but being honest he knows he is 2nd choice now.Before he was always challenging.

If Smith is leaving I wish him all the best. He's been a brilliant servant to this club.

I would have thought Mark Scott will be.

With Lanzano still on the books I suppose the club have to stick with what they've got.

Personally I dont think that Nathan Thompson is good enough for L1 and should have been let go. 

I wonder how much him getting a new contract is down to the fact that he shares the same agent as PDC as does Louis Thompson.  I do know that one of the current youth team players was contacted by said agent earlier this year with the promise that 'if you sign up with me you'll be fast tracked into the first team'..........

What you've described is the football industry.

Really not surprised about the Smith news.  Knew something was up at the party on the pitch.  Looked very withdrawn and didn't take part in the celebrations.

Would like to wish him good luck for the future.  Will never forget the saves in the JPT penalties.

After his performance in the Charlton game I can never say a bad thing about him, would of been a brilliant number 2 but maybe his performance agaisnt Gillingham was the final nail in the coffin. Good luck to him seems a genuinely nice guy.

Spot on......Crawley may want him back.

What is the deal with Lanzano? He was originally meant to leave in January but never did.

If Smithy is leaving, best luck for the future and thanks for the last few years.
I'm sure he can do a good job for a league club seeking an experienced keeper with a good few years left in him.
Don't think it will be Crawley as I think they've offered new contracts to both of their keepers.

Good luck to Smithy, top bloke and I hope he gets fixed up with a good club. 

Deserves a good run at number one at this stage in his career and its hard to see him getting that with Wes on form.

Well it looks like Flint, Connell, Kennedy and Devera are enjoying the sunshine according to Flint's facebook

Haven't they all just got from Vegas? Flint and Foderingham have been whining about their return.

I guess so

Sad to see Phil smith go if true, as others have said great servant and seemed to be a top bloke too, hope he gets the club/place he deserves. If your reading this Phil all the best.

"Gutted to be leaving swindon after 6 years thank you for all the support and wish all the players and staff all the best in the future. And thank you to jeremy wray for showing me some respect for ringing me and telling me other than the manager who doesn't have the guts!!!"

Smith, Phil. 2012.

A loyal servant.

The final piece of the Dennis Wise era, gone.

Did Smith delete the PDC dig?

Ooh a parting shot at the manager.

To be fair though, he has a point

looks like it rich

If Paolo didn't let him know, then I would be a bit disappointed. Phil Smith is a top bloke, and loved the club, regardless of the criticism he's come under during his time with us.

Hehe coward.

Or PDC called shortly afterwards :)

Great servant to the club. Who's our longest serving player now then?

Kennedy, maybe?

When did he sign a pro contract?

Bit naughty that

2008. When loads of them did.

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Person.asp?PersonID=KENNEDYC

So him and Mark Scott and are now the longest serving players. I find it funny that the joint longest serving player has never even made an appearance.

All the best Smithy. And good luck in your new venture (odd choice for someone with no hair)

[url width=114 height=300]http://images.mysupermarket.co.uk/ProductsDetailed/50/180250.jpg[/url]

I wonder what the record is? 5 seasons of professional football without making an appearance.

I've never wanted Mark Scott to sign a new deal more.

Seems Smithy is typing his replies to people and deleting them within a couple of minutes.

I like Smithy, outside of football too, but the outpouring of grief on Twitter is a bit nauseating.

Good luck Phil

I wished him luck, no more than that.

Phil is trying to be the 'better man'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRolAqdolMU

Why PDC never gave Smithy the call himself.............

@smudgeegghead @JamesHolman92 tbh smithy i think tht di canio has alot on his plate bout the Jonathan Tehoue stuff #JustSaying

I get a feeling Paolo really does have his own unique way of doing things

I doubt that is the reason why.

Can someone provide a list of all the players Twitter accounts, or update the squad list with them?

I'm shit on Twitter and can never find any of them.

4 years and 3 months. Impressive.  :toocool:

Couldnt agree more.

Good luck to him, but naught that the manager couldn't phone him and tell him out of respect

Hope it does not mean Scott is 2nd cohice, I'd like someone that has the capability of giving Wes competition to push him so he is kept on his toes knowing a few dodgy games and someone is waiting in the wings

Scott will go i reckon, as they just signed Bedwell up as a pro. I think we will sign another keeper pre season

Don't do it!  I joined twitter about a month ago and added a stack of players to follow.  I promptly unfollowed them all again a week or two later.

I think the straw that broke the camel's back was Wes' revelation one evening that, for once, the ladies in his gym were looking mighty fine.  Whilst I was, naturally, chuffed for our esteemed stopper...I realised that I couldn't really give a s**t about the ladies in his gym.  I still follow Fraser though, who is better.  Although he does bang on about the Premiership quite a lot.

Has Lanzano officially been released?

Not that i know of. I reckon he will just disappear into the abyss

"Just wanna say I've enjoyed every minute and I'm really guna miss Swindon. Thank you to everyone the support has been great #back2backpromo"


Sounds like Mark Scott is off too.

No surprises there then. Best of luck to Phil Smith, will never forget that night at the Valley.

Meh, not too disheartened by this one.

I'd be mildly concerned if you were.

Wheres the outpouring of grief?!

To be fair as well, Mr Wray usually does all the negotiating after targets have been identified, so perhaps as well as the hiring he is responsible for the firing!

As long as he heard the news from someone at the club.

With the assumption that Gabilondo is gone. Callum Kennedy is the only high profile name who could walk today/tomorrow.

Hahaha... high profile.  Good one.

Be nice  :girlgiggle:

So Scott and Smith gone. No surprises there. That leaves Gabilondo and Kennedy as the 2 left who's futures have yet to be decided. Reckon both could be off to be honest.

I'm interested to see what will be done with the exiled players.

Wouldn't be surprised if Paolo did call him, it was just that when Smith went to pick up the phone he dropped it.



My opinion of Smith hasn't changed for a long time, an able backup who can have good games, but a liability if you were going to rely on him all season.

With him & Scott gone, and Lanzano out of the picture it does make you wonder if there is anything in the David James rumours. 

I'm guessing we're hoping they come back more committed in pre season. If not then we'll try and find a club to take them. Paying them off will just set us back a few bob which we may be able to avoid.

Including Gabilondo and Kennedy, Di Canio has a 26 (1 paid by Samsung) man squad of professionals. If he wants to bring people then surely to goodness we've got to get the likes of Esajas, Kerrouche and Lanzano out?

Obviously there are players who featured often who might leave if a bid comes in.

This may help jonny

http://thetownend.com/index.php/topic,47891.msg1071792.html#msg1071792

I've put the twitter accounts on the original post.

I think Simon Ferry is MIA again though.

Agreed.  I think the hangover of some of last summer's ineffective signing will be a slower summer this time around.  Players need to leave before more can come in.

As it stands... Pretty colours and all.

THE SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS (3)

Leigh Bedwell (2013)
@bedders17
Wes Foderingham (2014)
@wes_foderingham
Mattia Lanzano (2013)
@LanzanoMattia

DEFENDERS (5)

Paul Caddis (2013)
No Twitter account
Alessandro Cibocchi (2013)
@alexcibo82
Joe Devera (2013)
No Twitter account
Aden Flint (2013)
@AFlint4
Nathan Thompson - Contract offered
@nathan_t23

DEFENDERS/MIDFIELDERS (2)

Alan McCormack (2013)
@almc16
Oliver Risser (2013)
@Oliverrisser80

MIDFIELDERS (6)

Lee Cox (2014)
No Twitter account
Etiënne Esajas (2013)
No Twitter account
Simon Ferry (2013)
@Siferrytapboi
Matt Ritchie (2013)
No Twitter account
Luke Rooney (2014)
@luke_rooney
Jonathan Smith (2013)
@jonathansmith40

MIDFIELDERS/FORWARDS (2)

Billy Bodin - Contract offered
No Twitter account
Raffa De Vita (2013)
@RaffaDeVita23

FORWARDS (5)

Paul Benson (2014)
No Twitter account
Alan Connell (2013)
@AlConnell83
Mehdi Kerrouche (2013)
No Twitter account
Lukáš Magera (2013)
No Twitter account
Miles Storey (2013)
@m_storey32


INS:

N/A

OUTS:

Lander Gabilondo (Released)
@lander_gabi
Callum Kennedy (Released)
@callum_k123
Abdul Said (Released)
No Twitter account
Mark Scott (Released)
@mark_scott18
Phil Smith (Released)
@smudgeegghead

Gabby and Kennedy join Smith and Scott on the released list (BBC Wilts)

Shame about Kennedy

I'm not sure whether I'm surprised about Callum Kennedy. Ridehalgh and McEveley both looked better.

Let's face it. if Di Canio thought Kennedy was good enough we wouldn't have had Ridehalgh and McEveley here in the first place.

You're right, but I simply refuse to face it :)

who gives a fuck what phil smith says/thinks about di canio? he's a conference standard keeper at best who has managed to string out a few years at a half-decent league club despite a number of shaky performances

i'm sure he's a nice bloke but this loyal servant stuff is ridiculous - he's only been loyal because he's been hanging on to playing at a club like swindon by the skin of his teeth

Erm where have i said loyal servant etc.

All i said was he made a parting shot.

Get out the wrong side of bed this morning or are you on your period?

After six years of service I think it's not crazy to suggest that he was loyal.

He was also inconsistent and, yes, some Twitter comments (from grown men) can make you cringe.

i was writing about your comment plus others about his 'loyalty'

just seems odd to be so affectionate about a second rate goal-keeper when people are quick to slag off players like austin and douglas, who were actually good for us

It's what I find quite weird. He got so much shit for being a "shit keeper" yet now he's leaving there's a huge outpouring of grief. It's almost as pathetic as when Kate Cady got kicked out.

I dont think anyone slagged them off for their playing ability, more there ability to jump ship at the first opportunity.

If, for example, Smithy signed for Yeovil, would he get the same shit as Douglas when he returns to the CG, i dont think so, and this is why people are wishing him good luck for the future. It got a bit Diana-Esque on Twitter yesterday, but you can put alot of that down to kids getting home from school.

I said good luck to Phil and fuck-off to Douglas

So there

Smith was very much like Nicky Hammond as has been discussed on here previously. Not surprised he is now surplus nor that he wasn't even spoken to by Di canio. He was and is an able deputy-lower league keeper but where we are hopefully heading is not his level. Nice that fans appreciate his loyalty but he'll soon be forgotten.
Think his departure could have been dealt with better but Di canio is who he is and wont change. We move on

Well said.

Spot on.

Agreed, as long as David James doesn't take the #2 keeper spot ;)

Official list now released.

http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10341~2774417,00.html

Very suprised Esajas has been retained, the fat cunt

Cant disagree with any of those that have been released really. Need to get rid of Esajas, Lanzano etc

Add another Keeper, Mceverly, Bostock (loan, impressed me when he played near the end), O'Kane and a stiker and we have a very decent squad for next year

All that mean is he's got another year left on his original contract. I'd imagine the club and player are keen to part company.

He's still under contract. There's no choice unless we can sell him.

Some of those on the retained list aren't 'players we want to keep', but 'players we can't shift'.

For me one of the main things I would like this summer is to extend the likes of Caddis', Ritchie's and Ferry's contract. That would be as good as three signings.

Esajas was definitely signed on a two year deal. Doubt he will find or be offered a better deal than what he is on now. Laranzo was also on a two year deal and nearly left once before by mutual consent only to change his mind at the last minute. I'm sure he has openly stated that if he can get a deal back home then he would leave. Just doubt,again that he find a better offer so just seeing out his contract. Both players are down to DiCanios inexperience at the start.

Still think he is one of the best shot stoppers we've seen in recent years and did pretty well against penalties as well.

Only thing that concerns me is that I'm not sure we'll get a more able replacement. Who ever comes in will be 2nd choice and will need a long term injury or long term loss of form for Foderingham before they'll get a game. Not sure a young keeper will help either, having someone experienced will be a big help to Foderingham with his development.

which is why a david james type signing may be a good move - not james himself but an experienced keeper who knows his best days are behind him but is still able to deputise and offer valuable advice to a young promising keeper.

It's going to be David James, isn't it?

 :hmmm:

David James would be a fantastic signing as back up for Foderingham. Ex England, he would probably become GK coach too.

I saw David James play at Swindon in 1991 :)

Best moment of your life?

Watford at home when we beat them 2-1?  Second goal through his legs if I remember rightly.

I saw David James play at the County Ground in 2008

I saw that too, it largely formed my opinion of David James which hasn't really changed since.  Calamity James.

Hmmm indeed. Past it. Not even sure I'd want him as a coach let alone #2.

It's up there.

For the others, the Watford game was a 2-1 loss and I think it was Glenn Hoddle's first game in charge.

It was his first game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t2KgwNZxv5w

Oh and... FUCK YOU MALONE  :smugfu:

He's going to have to take a large drop in wages - Shitty's top earner I believe.

Jonathan Smith is @jonathansmith40

Well, it took at least half a day for someone to find an error ;)

I'm sure someone will make a pun about it soon.

Caddis signs one year contract extention.

Really?

So he's now contracted until the summer of 2014 ?

He signed a 3 year contract in July 2010 if I remember right with Ferry too ??

Confirmed on BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18138811

Great news!

Its not like he had a choice mind :)

Caddis signs a one year extension. Brilliant news.

Edit : Maybe I should of read above...

Fantastic news about Caddis signing another contract, need to keep the core of the squad together

Now to do the same with Fezza.

Hopefully Ritchie will do the same.

Still waiting for PdC to sign - although to be fair, it's looks nailed on

Caddis didn't sign though as such did he. The club triggered a 1 year extension.

At least it means we'll get more money for him if a club comes in.

I dont think anything with Paolo is nailed on/predictable

Not that i dont think he will sign mind you

Quite, though he did say it would "probably" have happened anyway. But as you say, at a minimum it puts his price up.

Etienne esajas gone.

Next....

Source?

Was on t'wireless

That's good enough for me...

THE SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS (3)

Leigh Bedwell (2013)
@bedders17
Wes Foderingham (2014)
@wes_foderingham
Mattia Lanzano (2013)
@LanzanoMattia

DEFENDERS (5)

Paul Caddis (2014)
No Twitter account
Alessandro Cibocchi (2013)
@alexcibo82
Joe Devera (2013)
No Twitter account
Aden Flint (2013)
@AFlint4
Nathan Thompson - Contract offered
@nathan_t23

DEFENDERS/MIDFIELDERS (2)

Alan McCormack (2013)
@almc16
Oliver Risser (2013)
@Oliverrisser80

MIDFIELDERS (5)

Lee Cox (2014)
No Twitter account
Simon Ferry (2013)
@Siferrytapboi
Matt Ritchie (2013)
No Twitter account
Luke Rooney (2014)
@luke_rooney
Jonathan Smith (2013)
@jonathansmith40

MIDFIELDERS/FORWARDS (2)

Billy Bodin - Contract offered
No Twitter account
Raffa De Vita (2013)
@RaffaDeVita23

FORWARDS (5)

Paul Benson (2014)
No Twitter account
Alan Connell (2013)
@AlConnell83
Mehdi Kerrouche (2013)
No Twitter account
Lukáš Magera (2013)
No Twitter account
Miles Storey (2013)
@m_storey32

NEW CONTRACTS:

Paul Caddis - 1 year extension

INS:

N/A

OUTS:

Etiënne Esajas (Released)
No Twitter account
Lander Gabilondo (Released)
@lander_gabi
Callum Kennedy (Released)
@callum_k123
Abdul Said (Released)
No Twitter account
Mark Scott (Released)
@mark_scott18
Phil Smith (Released)
@smudgeegghead

TRIALISTS/TRAINING

Luke McCormick (Who knows?)

I think Paul Mooney (the runner up in the Samsung competition) was also invited back for a trial in pre season

Excellent news.

A good wage freed up, excellent indeed.

Would be interested to know what happened to Lee Cox, anyone know?

Who else to leave now then?

Kerrouche and Lanzano probably, any others?

I'm still not sure about Lukas Magera's return. Not because of ability just down to whether he wants too.

Kerrouche and Lanzano aside, I think pretty much everyone else will report for training.

Nothing, he's been injured.

Its wierd, last season everyone said we had a massive squad but looking at the players still at the club, if you take Magera/Lanzano/Kerrouche out of the equation it looks a fairly small squad with a few berths being taken up by young inexperienced players Bedwell, Thompson and Storey, leaving just 1 keeper, 6 defenders, 5 midfielders, 2 strikers who would be considered first teamers.

I personally think Bodin will move on and refuse the contract and Thompson will accept his new contract and probably go out on loan next season to get game time.

Ritchie & Caddis to Rotherham for 900k

Dont be silly....we would never get that much money for those two

Nah Caddis has handed in a transfer request to be with his best mate at Rotherham so be lucky to get anything really

Billy Bodin now has Twitter if everyone fancies a follow: @BillyBodin9

anyone know when Paolos back? hope we get some good news on transfers this coming week, certainly don't want another week like the last one!!!!

Usually gets going within the next week or two.

Come on Costanza, what usually happens is we don't sign anyone then claim that its because the Euros are on ;)

How can I forget that ol' chestnut?

Incidentally, we are probably due a 'I want my squad fully assembled before pre-training starts' article.

Wray said that we would have to be patient for signings. I think they will come in a cluster just before the preseason tour.

Well I get all my news these days from the Adver comments section and my understanding is that Paolo is no longer at the Club  :hmmm:

Hes joined wigan I understand.

I remember a few years ago when things were a little slow on the transfer front, the general consensus was that the Ronaldo transfer to Real Madrid was the reason why nobody (including ourselves) were not signing anyone.

We can always blame Van Persie this year.

Lets please not have another constant panic over lack of signings like we did early pre-season last year.

Anyone know where that panic button is?

This!

The domestic season only finished yesterday. If we're signing free transfers then there is no need to get them on board until 1 July (financially anyway) as the club don't have to pay their wages until then.

Things aint gonna get going for weeks i'd expect. Players and managers will be on their hols

Praise the lord for that....time to have a break from the exploits of Swindon FC for a while i reckon.

Talking for myself of course.

I think the club know who their targets are, have been sounded out, and it's just waiting for holidays to end and players to come back and sign up.

Unless, of course, there is no money forthcoming and PdC will be off  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

So what's the consensus regarding what we need? I know there are some obvious positions that need filling but looking roughly at our current squad, we are top heavy in places. I'm unemployed at the moment so have time to type this sort of drivel (I have been offered a new job though *Phew.Hooray.Phew* but it doesn't start for another two weeks)

With new signings still potentially weeks away, let us (hopefully) discuss what is really needed at Swindon for the 2012/13 season.

Out of position players in italics.

Goalkeeper
1. Wes Foderingham
2. Leigh Bedwell
3. Mattia Lanzano

Dennis Wise, Paul Sturrock, Maurice Malpas and Danny Wilson all preferred to have duelling goalkeepers fighting for a number one spot and long term it probably had more of a detrimental effect at Swindon.

Plenty of clubs have a mainstay number 1 goalkeeper with back-up, why not Swindon? With that in mind, I'd have a 'Steve Book' type keeper brought in with Mattia Lanzano axed and Leigh Bedwell as third goalkeeper.

Right-Back
1. Paul Caddis
2. Nathan Thompson
3. Joe Devera

On the basis that Nathan Thompson accepts his contract offer then I don't think there's much need to bolster this. Perhaps the loan market can assist when need be.

Left-Back
1. Alessandro Cibocchi

If McEveley comes in and then you'll probably need to bring another in if Cibocchi's injury is as bad as what DV has alluded to in the past. I wonder what Ridehalgh's availability is now that Huddersfield Town have been promoted?

Centre-Back
1. Alan McCormack
2. Joe Devera
3. Aden Flint
4. Oliver Risser
5. Alessandro Cibocchi

McCormack is worth debating. In League Two, McCormack was a fantastic make-shift central defender but in League One? There's every chance that he will be just as good but what if he's not? Then you've got Joe Devera with Aden Flint. Both good players but is it strong enough against better opposition? I'd be hoping that Di Canio is looking at an experienced lower league centre-back to really make that position competitive.

Right-Midfield
1. Matt Ritchie
2. Paul Caddis

Ritchie's no.1. If Caddis has to fill in then you've got Nathan Thompson to cover. I imagine Di Canio might look at the loan market to cover Ritchie.

Left-Midfield
1. Luke Rooney
2. Raffa De Vita
3. Matt Ritchie
4. Billy Bodin

Rooney has flitted in and out of the side, as has Raffa De Vita. I'd be interested to read what others think about this position...

Centre-Midfield
1. Simon Ferry
2. Jonathan Smith
3. Oliver Risser
3. Lee Cox
4. Alan McCormack
5. Matt Ritchie

I think (and this is only my opinion which is based on nothing at all) that Jonathan Smith is at risk this summer of being sold on. Recent news may suggest that Lee Cox's Town career may go the way of Elliot Benyon but Smith was in and out of the squad on a semi-regular basis. RE: Smith, it's not based on what I think of him as a footballer but I just have that feeling that Di Canio isn't so sure.

Also, Risser is a favourite of Di Canio's while I think McCormack might go back in to a midfield role. Ferry has earned high praise after last summer.

Centre-Forward
1. Paul Benson
2. Alan Connell
3. Billy Bodin
4. Raffa De Vita
5. Lukáš Magera
6. Miles Storey
7. Mehdi Kerrouche

There's a lot of names but we certainly need a new player in there. I'd hope Kerrouche will be effectively replaced by the Andy Williams signing (if it happens) while Magera could be replaced for another forward who can be relied upon.

For consistency alone, I wouldn't get rid of Connell.

Thought/Thoughts?

I think all we need is a GK, CB, LB, a winger and a couple of strikers.

What do you think about McCormack as either a defender or reverting to what is possibly he preferred position?

A central midfielder is a must. Risser isn't good enough and I can't see Smith being a regular in a side that has top 6 ambitions.

I would keep McCormack in defence - our record at the back was superb last season and he was our best defender for me. Sign Mcevely and the backline looks solid.

keep alan back there in defence, it's important to have a ball player back there and there aren't so many lumps in L1 so his height should be even less of an issue.

get mceveley in, an able athletic CM and of course a couple of strikers in, preferably with some pace

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Don't we have one on trial and looking at 'signing'. I've read it somewhere...

N'ah, it's in your head.

It wouldn't surprise me if we went for Holmes, who I believe is out of contract? I know he sometimes split opinions but with a full PDC pre-season behind him, I think he could be a very good league one player.

I'm inclined to agree.

Raffa De Vita's stock still doesn't look great as he's failed to make an impact as a forward. He job a decent job filling in on the left wing but with Rooney and possible Holmes, what does this mean for De Vita?

I like the way you've put those little accent things on Magera's name....a touch of class that unemployment brings, it will be a shame when you return to the ranks of the wage slave, the TEF is all the better for a few with too much time on their hands.

As for the squad...who knows, this is STFC.  It's quite conceivable we'll be looking for a new chairman and manager before we get any players...

Ha! You're not wrong Reg.

So we're agreed then? We're going to sign 2 goalkeepers, 2 right backs and a slow forward to hold the ball up.

And 7 left backs.  None of them good.

I wouldnt mind having a go at being chairman!

Lee Holmes poised to sign for Preston apparently.

C'mon, you can't post that without a source..

Edit: It's from a Sky Sports related Tweet.

Sky Sports understands Preston are poised to sign Lee Holmes from Southampton #PNE #Saintsfc

Official Sky Sports Twitter.

Yeah I just clocked it.

People had divided opinions on Holmes but he would be a decent signing for any L1 team.

Shame to miss out on him but we have plenty of time to find alternative options.

Not been impressed with Prestons summer businnes so far but Holmes would be a decent signing for them.

No biggie. We can do better.

that might be the case but i bet he sets up at least one goal against us next season. I liked Holmes but he drifted in and mostly out of games far to much

Not fussed really.  Seemed a nice chap but like others have said am sure we can do better.

Oliver Risser is promoting his Swindon Town showreel (or some pretty standard fan appreciation). How many contracted players do this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oogGtTsToiI

This pointless piece of rumour mongering was brought to you by me, for all of your me needs - choose me.

I liked the one where he mis-controlled it in to sometimes path, yet included out as a stand alone highlight...

Geography is an important consideration...probably more so than a lot of fans appreciate.  So that would have worked in Preston's favour as well.  Got to wonder whether the media shitstorm at STFC last week may have hindered our chances of getting his signature as well.

Oh well.  Golden opportunity for Luke Rooney.  He's still very young and I know we haven't seen the best of him yet.

He doesn't want to come off all arrogant does he.

I'd have put the own goal at Wembley in myself. Clinical.

All foreign players do it, they don't expect to be at their clubs long so I'd imagine Risser feels the same.

I would have included it but for a different reason. Just to show that you've played at Wembley. The own goal is immaterial.

Im going all out to score an own goal at wembley tomorrow, just to piss alan shearer off

You're playing at Wembley?

Yeah he is, lucky cunt

If he scores he either has to,

A. Windmill Alan Shearer
B. Do the Robbie Fowler line of coke celebration

Was just having a look at Prestons team, they currently have 30 pro's and since the end of the season have brought in no less than 12 players!

GK: Richard Wright
DF: Paul Huntington
DF: Shane Cansdell-Sherriff
DF: David Buchanan
DF: Scott Laird
MF: John Mousinho
MF: Lee Holmes
MF: Jeffrey Monakana
MF: Nicky Wroe
MF: John Welsh
MF: William Hayhurst
FW: David Amoo

Thats a lot of new players to gel together early on in the season. They have also transfer listed 7 players as well as releasing 17 players (including Neil Mellor who retired).

Not dissimilar to us last summer really.

...except they have started a lot earlier.  A large part of our early season problems last year was down to a batch of unknown players being signed around the time of the tour to Norcia, just weeks before the season kicked off.  When it did, the squad had not yet settled in to any sort of pattern; it took until the autumn for that to happen.  As I recall, last August expectations were that Esajas and Risser were going to be our key men.

Turned out to be off-key men.

The thing that strikes me about that list is that the majority of them are all average League One players. That's not to say they won't be successful, but most have them have signed 2 or 3 year deals and if Preston are targeting promotion, are any of them going to be good enough for the Championship?

Think this approach is more Bristol Rovers last Summer than our own, and won't be surprised to see it end in similar circumstances.

TBF though, none of the players that we brought in last summer were players that stood out to be able to cut it in the league above.  The players that could obviously play at a higher level were already with us (Caddis, Ferry, Ritchie, Flint) maybe McCormack is the exception but he started shakey.  We got up because of the mentality of the manager.

Add Foderingham to that list and you have a short list of players that could potentially cut it in the Championship.  If we have genuine ambition of challenging next year then that shows that we have a lot of work to do this season too.

Updated.

THE SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS (3)

Leigh Bedwell (2013)
@bedders17
Wes Foderingham (2014)
@wes_foderingham
Mattia Lanzano (2013)
@LanzanoMattia

DEFENDERS (5)

Paul Caddis (2014)
No Twitter account
Alessandro Cibocchi (2013)
@alexcibo82
Joe Devera (2013)
No Twitter account
Aden Flint (2013)
@AFlint4
Nathan Thompson - Contract offered
@nathan_t23

DEFENDERS/MIDFIELDERS (2)

Alan McCormack (2013)
@almc16
Oliver Risser (2013)
No Twitter account

MIDFIELDERS (6)

Lee Cox (2014)
No Twitter account
Simon Ferry (2013)
@Siferrytapboi
Matt Ritchie (2013)
No Twitter account
Gary Roberts (2014)
No Twitter account
Luke Rooney (2014)
@luke_rooney
Jonathan Smith (2013)
@jonathansmith40

MIDFIELDERS/FORWARDS (3)

Billy Bodin - Contract offered
@BillyBodin9
Raffa De Vita (2013)
@RaffaDeVita23
Andy Williams (2014)
No Twitter account

FORWARDS (6)

Paul Benson (2014)
No Twitter account
James Collins (2014)
@JamesCollins9
Alan Connell (2013)
@AlConnell83
Mehdi Kerrouche (2013)
No Twitter account
Lukáš Magera (2013)
No Twitter account
Miles Storey (2013)
@m_storey32

NEW CONTRACTS:

Paul Caddis (1 year extension)
Paolo Di Canio (2 year extension)

INS:

James Collins (Shrewsbury Town, compensation due)
@JamesCollins9
Gary Roberts (Huddersfield Town, free)
No Twitter account
Andy Williams (Yeovil Town, free)
No Twitter account

OUTS:

Etiënne Esajas (Released)
No Twitter account
Lander Gabilondo (Released)
@lander_gabi
Callum Kennedy (Released)
@callum_k123
Abdul Said (Released)
No Twitter account
Mark Scott (Released)
@mark_scott18
Phil Smith (Released)
@smudgeegghead

Sexy use of colours costanza

The risser account is a fake

A relic of my unemployment days :)

Have you missed Chris Smith off that list, the Samsung guy?

So a potential first XI for our first game could be:

Foderingham

Caddis
Flint
McCormack
McEveley

Roberts
Navarro
Ferry
Ritchie

Benson
Collins

That looks pretty fucking decent to me.

I don't think Paul Benson will be much cop in League one next season.

There, I said it.

Maybe more of an impact sub next season, a bit like a better Connell I guess.

10 in 33 for Charlton is not a record to be sniffed at, although he's not getting any younger.

I think Benson will do well with a full pre season training having been with PdC for several months now. He will get fit and still be a big asset, I feel that Williams will be more of a squad player/impact sub when we need some pace up front.

Given his age he was never a long term signing. Reckon he'll be given a chance to deliver and if he doesn't he'll be replaced in the starting eleven.

Reckon Benson will be used as a super sub!   :wink:

Benson will partner collins upfront in the first game of the season.  ;)

Some players just seem to be able to keep on going (think Shearer), whereas others seem to suffer more.

Guess we'll just have to wait and find out.

Benson is ace and will tear League One a new err, one.

I'm thinking Paolo won't have strikers starting who aren't scoring so Benson like the others will get plenty of chances. When Striker partnerships are working and getting goals it makes it very hard for any manager to drop them, which in turn keeps everyone hungry for starts and success.

Benson has a good footballing brain which bode him for whenever the legs do go.  However he is only 32 which means he easily has at least 2-3 years left of being decent at this level.  He also strikes me as the ultimate pro who will thrive under a pre-season of PDC's fitness routine knowing that fitness is a key to prolonging his career at this level.

I expect him to get around 20 this season and be our top scorer.

Leyton Orient fans seem to think he is being offered to clubs at £85k as he doesnt want to move away from Essex where is kids go to school.

Probably bollocks.

http://s16124652.onlinehome-server.info/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2022&sid=789caa27601f54b5589a171648d364d9

Would be amazed if this was true. He's been one of the first names on the team sheet since he signed in Jan.

Not sure what age his kids are and how many he has but i know he's (well his Mrs presumably) has had one recently.

'85 large'!

Don't you just love Cockernees.

Given the fact that his first child isn't old enough for school yet and his second is only months old, it's absolute bollocks.

Midfield and up front looks to be sorted, lots of experience and depth there.

Still think we need someone alongside McCormack, unsure that Flint will make the step up.

I agree, i expect another experienced defender coming in. I think Devera will play ahead of flint, got more pace, better distribution etc.

I'd disagree. I think Flint will play a huge part this season, with Devera stepping in when needed. We do need another quality CB though as we were forced to play Risser at the back in several games last season.

Flinty relegated to fourth choice then? I'd hope not.

It's an interesting question. Assume most people would agree Alan Mac and A.N.Other, but which out of Flint and Devera?

Strange to say as Flint was incredible in the opening few games, but the way Devera got better as the season went on I think I'd have him ahead of Flint at the moment.

Devera is a better all round player than Flint at the moment.

I agree, I think an experienced CB will be next signing along with a backup/squad keeper probably with a bit more experience that Wes so keep him on his toes, that will make it the 8 signings Paolo was after.

THE SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS (3)

Leigh Bedwell (2013)
@bedders17
Wes Foderingham (2014)
@wes_foderingham
Mattia Lanzano (2013)
@LanzanoMattia

DEFENDERS (5)

Paul Caddis (2014)
No Twitter account
Alessandro Cibocchi (2013)
@alexcibo82
Joe Devera (2013)
No Twitter account
Aden Flint (2013)
@AFlint4
Jay McEveley (2014)
@jaymcev03
Chris Smith (Samsung)
@csmudgersmith90
Nathan Thompson - Contract offered
@nathan_t23

DEFENDERS/MIDFIELDERS (2)

Alan McCormack (2013)
@almc16
Oliver Risser (2013)
No Twitter account

MIDFIELDERS (6)

Lee Cox (2014)
No Twitter account
Simon Ferry (2013)
@ihatedanmarino
Tommy Miller (2013)
No Twitter account
Alan Navarro (2014)
@alannavarro31
Matt Ritchie (2013)
No Twitter account
Gary Roberts (2014)
No Twitter account
Luke Rooney (2014)
@luke_rooney
Jonathan Smith (2013)
@jonathansmith40

MIDFIELDERS/FORWARDS (3)

Billy Bodin - Contract offered
@BillyBodin9
Raffa De Vita (2013)
@RaffaDeVita23
Andy Williams (2014)
No Twitter account

FORWARDS (6)

Paul Benson (2014)
No Twitter account
James Collins (2014)
@JamesCollins9
Alan Connell (2013)
@AlConnell83
Mehdi Kerrouche (2013)
No Twitter account
Lukáš Magera (2013)
No Twitter account
Miles Storey (2013)
@m_storey32

NEW CONTRACTS:

Paul Caddis (1 year extension)
Paolo Di Canio (2 year extension)

INS:

James Collins (Shrewsbury Town, compensation due)
@JamesCollins9
Jay McEveley (Barnsley, free)
@jaymcev03
Tommy Miller (Huddersfield Town, free)
No Twitter account
Alan Navarro (Brighton & Hove Albion, free)
@alannavarro31
Gary Roberts (Huddersfield Town, free)
No Twitter account
Andy Williams (Yeovil Town, free)
No Twitter account

OUTS:

Etiënne Esajas (Released)
No Twitter account
Lander Gabilondo (Released)
@lander_gabi
Callum Kennedy (Scunthope United, free)
@callum_k123
Abdul Said (Released)
No Twitter account
Mark Scott (Released)
@mark_scott18
Phil Smith (Released)
@smudgeegghead

If this was a game of football manager you would be pretty pleased with that as a solid piece of squad strengthening.

The strange thing is that I am not even surprised this time round, as it was clear under Wray/Di Canio in the January window that we weren't going to dither any more.

#ff

Ferry has a new twitter account: ray finkle ‏ @ihatedanmarino

that is class

I've seen him in town with a lil en and looks the same age as my nephew so would be starting school this year i would have thought.

Someone asked for a Twitter directory to be provided and I duly obliged.

Should have put in a random one somewhere, like Fatbury's, it would have made his day.

All we need now is a back up GK and a CB.

Depends who we get rid of I just have this feeling that PDC & Wray still have a surprise left

The main reason I think we need another CB is that we need experience at the back. McCormack, although an experienced pro, has only spent 1 season at CB and will face tougher opponents this year.

Devera and Flint have only played at lower levels and I'm not convinced they're good enough...

Looking like a quality squad for the upcoming season...3 in Monday, 3 in Thursday...how many more do we think?

Who's on the out list then as well?

I think Flint is good enough for this level and the one above personally.  He is very young for a CB and will be learning every game.

I think he definately has the potential but wouldnt mind getting in an experienced head to just to provide a bit more depth.  In saying that i thought Devera was excellent in the last 2/3 months of last season, wouldnt object to him starting season alongside Macca.

I do think we need experienced cover, but doesn't change my view on Flint though

I don't think our back four needs tampering with too much. Thought it was ace last year.

Michael duberry

he does know where the goal is

Got a head like a fifty pence piece

Can we sticky this so I don't accidentally post in the wrong thread...


"Mehdi Kerrouche has had his contract with Swindon Town Football Club cancelled by mutual consent # STFC"


From twitter.

1 down several to go.

No surprise really but a shame as he looked really quite good at times.

Oh well, in Paolo we trust!

No cash involved in pay off, just 2000 B+H

Smokin

His 2 goals will at Crawley will live long in my memory.

Great performance, great finishing.

He was quality that day

always looked decent to me and i'd of played him more than the others. Strange for a player who worked really hard on the pitch to not do any work off it. Oh well, wonder if he'll stay in England

Kerrouche! Kerrouche!
Kerrouche has been fired!

8 goals in 17 is a good record.

Contributed to some of our wins, thus our points thus us winning the league, so thanks for that.

He definitely contributed. Unfortunately for him and luckily for us, we didn't miss him.

FAO JONNY: LOOK AWAY... NOW!

THE SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS (3)

Leigh Bedwell (2013)
@bedders17
Wes Foderingham (2014)
@wes_foderingham
Mattia Lanzano (2013)
@LanzanoMattia

DEFENDERS (5)

Paul Caddis (2014)
No Twitter account
Alessandro Cibocchi (2013)
@alexcibo82
Joe Devera (2013)
No Twitter account
Aden Flint (2013)
@AFlint4
Jay McEveley (2014)
@jaymcev03
Chris Smith (Samsung)
@csmudgersmith90
Nathan Thompson - Contract offered
@nathan_t23

DEFENDERS/MIDFIELDERS (2)

Alan McCormack (2013)
@almc16
Oliver Risser (2013)
No Twitter account

MIDFIELDERS (6)

Lee Cox (2014)
No Twitter account
Simon Ferry (2013)
@ihatedanmarino
Tommy Miller (2013)
No Twitter account
Alan Navarro (2014)
@alannavarro31
Matt Ritchie (2013)
No Twitter account
Gary Roberts (2014)
No Twitter account
Luke Rooney (2014)
@luke_rooney
Jonathan Smith (2013)
@jonathansmith40

MIDFIELDERS/FORWARDS (3)

Billy Bodin - Contract offered
@BillyBodin9
Raffa De Vita (2013)
@RaffaDeVita23
Andy Williams (2014)
No Twitter account

FORWARDS (6)

Paul Benson (2014)
No Twitter account
James Collins (2014)
@JamesCollins9
Alan Connell (2013)
@AlConnell83
Lukáš Magera (2013)
No Twitter account
Miles Storey (2013)
@m_storey32

NEW CONTRACTS:

Paul Caddis (1 year extension)
Paolo Di Canio (2 year extension)

INS:

James Collins (Shrewsbury Town, compensation due)
@JamesCollins9
Jay McEveley (Barnsley, free)
@jaymcev03
Tommy Miller (Huddersfield Town, free)
No Twitter account
Alan Navarro (Brighton & Hove Albion, free)
@alannavarro31
Gary Roberts (Huddersfield Town, free)
No Twitter account
Andy Williams (Yeovil Town, free)
No Twitter account

OUTS:

Etiënne Esajas (Released)
No Twitter account
Lander Gabilondo (Released)
@lander_gabi
Callum Kennedy (Scunthope United, free)
@callum_k123
Mehdi Kerrouche (Released)
No Twitter account
Abdul Said (Released)
No Twitter account
Mark Scott (Released)
@mark_scott18
Phil Smith (Released)
@smudgeegghead

Yay lots of colours  :girlgiggle:

Not that you read much into squad numbers, but on the photo gallery on the official site, Alan McCormack is wearing 6 which would suggest that PDC see's him as CB.

He was #6 at Motherwell back when he was a flying winger.

THE SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

Leigh Bedwell (2013)
Wes Foderingham (2014)
Mattia Lanzano (2013 - Transfer Listed)

DEFENDERS

Troy Archibald-Henville (2014)
Paul Caddis (2014)
Alessandro Cibocchi (2013)
Joe Devera (2013)
Aden Flint (2013)
Jay McEveley (2014)
Chris Smith (2013 - Samsung)
Nathan Thompson (2013?)

DEFENDERS/MIDFIELDERS

Alan McCormack (2013)
Oliver Risser (2013)

MIDFIELDERS

Lee Cox (2014 - Transfer Listed)
Simon Ferry (2013)
Tommy Miller (2013)
Alan Navarro (2014)
Matt Ritchie (2013)
Gary Roberts (2014)
Luke Rooney (2014)
Jonathan Smith (2013 - Transfer Listed)

MIDFIELDERS/FORWARDS

Billy Bodin - Contract offered
Raffa De Vita (2013)
Andy Williams (2014)

FORWARDS

Paul Benson (2014)
James Collins (2014)
Alan Connell (2013 - Transfer Listed)
Miles Storey (2013)

NEW CONTRACTS:

Paul Caddis (1 year extension)
Paolo Di Canio (2 year extension)

INS:

Troy Archibald-Henville (Exeter City, compensation due)
James Collins (Shrewsbury Town, compensation due)
Jay McEveley (Barnsley, free)
Tommy Miller (Huddersfield Town, free)
Alan Navarro (Brighton & Hove Albion, free)
Gary Roberts (Huddersfield Town, free)
Andy Williams (Yeovil Town, free)

OUTS:

Etiënne Esajas (Released)
Lander Gabilondo (Released)
Callum Kennedy (Scunthope United, free)
Mehdi Kerrouche (Released)
Lukáš Magera (Released)
Abdul Said (Released)
Mark Scott (Released)
Phil Smith (Released)

Who's number 12 in the pictures on the OS?

Roberts.

Believe it's Gary Roberts, you can tell by the ears.

That would have been my guess but I didn't think it looked that much like him. I take it those numbers will be the squad numbers for the forthcoming season.

Yeah it is Roberts.

Who is the Ginge 14?  And No.30? (who looks scarily like Joey Beachamp in one of the pictures)

14 is Chris Smith and 30 is Paul Mooney - runner-up in the Samsung competition who was offered a trial by PdC

Ah OK. Cheers

No Mooney thanks

So am I correct in think that all the signings that PDC made when he arrived bar Risser have now left not very often that happens ?

wes

Wes came later and after an initial loan spell.

I'll give you Alan Mac though.

De Vita, Cibbochi, Devera, McCormick,

Lanzano

So really it never happens :doh:

So in other words, no you are not correct.

Squad numbers released.

http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10341~2853890,00.html

Mean anything? don't really know. Interesting to see Rooney #7.

Caddis 17?  Have I missed something?

Also interesting is Caddis is 17, Benson is 14 and Williams 16. Maybe it was kind of like last year where PDC says, "help yourself, I don't care" and it was a bit first come first served?

If I was a player, I'd choose number 1. It's also the number my best striker plays as in Football Manager.

"Squad numbers just released for #STFC - Paul Caddis has moved to 17 after the birth of his first child on that date"

Chris Tanner just tweeted that.

I think Collins was quoted as saying he wanted the no 9 shirt.

Should do it alphabetically...Ossie wore No 2 in 1978.  

Also, I just found out that Argentina won the fair play award in that tournament...pay off some Peruvian and unfreeze a few national assets?  Fair Play!

Rooney 7 has a good ring to it...will most likely go on the back of my shirt this season!

Oh, I didn't realise you were 12.

Cibo's contract terminated by mutual consent. Family reasons apparently!

Disappointing but not entirely surprising. Good luck Cibbo.

Nooooo........Cibo...

Bit bizarre being as he was preferred to Nathan Thompson on the bench last night i believe.

Someone's going to be busy......

I said at the start of the season, due to the short season with starting a week later due to the Olympics, and finishing a week earlier due to the CL Final at Wembley and having to play the PO Final a week earlier, I said that we will have to put up with a squad rotation system, eapecially that PdC wants to win every game possible.That means we'll could have cup runs on both the League Cup and FA Cup, and another assault on the JPT.

At the end of the day, the cup runs help balance the books...along with a promotion season.

Strewth. A busy Deadline Day. OBSERVE! Bright colours.

THE SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

1. Wes Foderingham (2014)
30. Leigh Bedwell (2013)


DEFENDERS

2. Troy Archibald-Henville (2014)
3. Jay McEveley (2014)
4. Aden Flint (2013)
5. Joe Devera (2013)
12. Alan McCormack (2013)
15. Nathan Thompson (2013)
32. Chris Smith (2013 - Samsung)
--. Darren Ward (LOAN)
--. Federico Bessone (Jan. 2013)

MIDFIELDERS

6. Alan Navarro (2014)
7. Luke Rooney (2014)
8. Simon Ferry (2013)
10. Matt Ritchie (2013)
11. Gary Roberts (2014)
13. Oliver Risser (2013)
18. Tommy Miller (2013)
19. Louis Thompson (YTS)
23. Raffa De Vita (2013)
--. John Bostock (LOAN)
--. Giles Coke (LOAN)

FORWARDS

9. James Collins (2014)
12. Paul Benson (2014)
16. Andy Williams (2014)
20. Miles Storey (2013)
--. Adam Rooney (LOAN)


NEW CONTRACTS:

Paul Caddis (1 year extension)
Paolo Di Canio (2 year extension)

INS:

Troy Archibald-Henville (Exeter City, compensation due)
James Collins (Shrewsbury Town, compensation due)
Jay McEveley (Barnsley, free)
Tommy Miller (Huddersfield Town, free)
Alan Navarro (Brighton & Hove Albion, free)
Gary Roberts (Huddersfield Town, free)
Andy Williams (Yeovil Town, free)

OUTS:

Billy Bodin (Torquay United, undisclosed)
Alessandro Cibocchi (Released)
Alan Connell (Bradford City, free)
Etiënne Esajas (Released)
Lander Gabilondo (Released)
Callum Kennedy (Scunthope United, free)
Mehdi Kerrouche (CS Constantine, free)
Mattia Lanzano (Released)
Lukáš Magera (Mlada Boleslav, free)
Abdul Said (Released)
Mark Scott (Released)
Jonathan Smith (York City, free)
Phil Smith (Released)

LOAN OUTS:

Paul Caddis (Birmingham City, Season Long Loan)
Lee Cox (Oxford United, Six Month Loan)
Oliver Risser (Stevenage, January Loan)

Posted by someone on Twitter, but just look at that squad depth! Can make two good starting XI's out of that!

[url width=316 height=513]http://www.footballuser.com/formations/2012/08/508863_Swindon_Town.jpg[/url]

That is a sexy looking squad

23 players is about right for a squad isn't it. I can't remember having 22 potential starers though (no offence meant to Bedwell, but he's still young).

Erm, good luck choosing 11 PDC!

Just think against Oxford we could play: Bedwell, Thompson, Archibald-Henville (If fit), Ward, Bessone, L.Rooney, Bostock, Coke, Roberts (If fit), Benson, A.Rooney.

Give some first team regulars a rest.

So that's half of our 2nd team and we could still destroy that yellow filth.

It's not just the fact these are 'signings' they are quality signings as well...really excited for the rest of this season. League 1 take note, Swindon are rising!!!!

I'm a little concerned by our lack of depth at attacking midfielder.  We have 20 mins to address it, or it's Wray out and di Canio out.

Would still prefer to get a keeper in now rather than try and play the emergency loan market if/when Foderingham gets injured.

With that squad though I'm seriously excited for this season. Was hoping to be in and around the play-offs but now I think we could not just challenge for the autos but the damn title.

Sloppy, they've missed storey. I know he's young but the lad is good enough to be on that.

So Paolo got more than he asked for - that's 12 new signings over the summer, albeit some on loan.

Good that in the main it has been getting better quality players in. Reckon our squad would do ok in the Championship.

Eff me, lil ole swindon, will be able to make 11 changes from the PNE game and still piss on the Pox

Stupidly waited until now to put my league winners accumulator on. We're only 5/1 now. Backed us, City, Cardiff and Bradford for £2.50 each way and it banks £2k if it comes in. Buying money there 

Thought our subs bench this season has looked really strong but now it will look unbelievable. Could even make a great 5/6 a-side team with the players watching from the stands.

just got back from work and read up on what's been going on.

said when i got to work at 10 this morning to one of our cheffs that ward is an excellent signing but i can't see who i'd drop in order for him to come in.  turns out we've signed a number of players you could say the same about.

most premiership clubs don't have the options we have at the moment - relatively speaking.

this is going to be one fantastic season and if we played man city tomorrow i would genuinely be expecting a result.

who was the last club to do back to back to back promotions?  northampton was it?  wonder what odds you'd be able to find for swindon to be starting life in the prem season 2014/15...

Brighton?

Not sure about from the 2nd to Championship but plenty have had back to back promotions recently - Crawley, Southampton and Norwich for example. Think they said no team has ever had three promotions back to back. Though Wolves were relegated three times running.

Southampton

Good stuff Kinky - no "I'm not getting carried away, I'll be happy with 9th" bollocks from you :thumb:

I'm sat here laughing in a James Bond evil baddie style about the potential havoc we could create on our pursuit to League One promotion.

Didn't Swansea, under toshack, go from 4th to 1st, pre Prem days, in successive seasons?

I am pretty sure it took them 2 seasons to get promoted to the top division hence taking 4 years not 3 to climb....I could be wrong.......but saying that their demise was equally as swift in returning to the bottom league a couple of years later.

If you were to name a 22 man squad now, with 2 players per position, I think Giles Coke would probably come in 23rd, and he os a good player at this level. Wonderful stuff

lots of money spent on agent fees.

Alright Sergeant Buzzkill, who pissed on your chips?

Didn't Northampton go from the 4th to the 1st and then 1st back to the 4th in successive seasons?

talking donkey's years here

Just got this from Wiki

They played their only season of their existence in the top division of English football when they reached the First Division in 1965–66. Northampton had been promoted from the Fourth Division to the First Division in the space of five seasons but were then relegated back to the Fourth Division by 1969–70.

Wow, sexy squad. Glad I got money on us for champs before we'd even signed a player. *smug as fuck*

"The Invincibles of 2012/13," has a certain ring to it.

Love topics like this where fan's of other clubs are jealous and have digs:

http://www.thefootballforum.net/index.php?/topic/213941-where-has-swindons-money-come-from/

er....

Love how people like to sound like they're in the know, "we've got a £3,000 p/w salary max".  Everyone knows it's closer to £10,000.

Get it right we got promotion so the wages went upto £20,000 p/w.

Navarro just tweeted "@alannavarro31: Gud news is its not my cruciate again, bad news is its my medial ligament, grade 2 tear, which I will b out 4 at least 4 weeks, #gutted"

That's good news, he's not dead and he's desparate to play.

:(

Luke Rooney returns.

you haven't updated this for ages you useless bastard

Nope. But the my 'first town match' is up-to-date... So there.

I hope he can show some of last years form in the last 14 games if he plays!

Just trying to see who's out of contract in the summer.

Devera, Flint, Ferry, Miller,Rafa,Storey,Bedwell.

anyone else?

Think Nathan Thompson & Macca are aswell.

Ferry, Thompson, Devera, absolutely essential and need to be tied up now.
Rafa, Macca, Flint, Storey worth keeping but won't lose sleep over loss of.
Miller i would let go. He's done a reasonable job here to be fair but imagine he's on high wages and we could do a lot better for that.
Bedwell can't judge, but we need one back up goalie.

If that's all the ones up for renewal guess that means we're stuck with Navarro/ Roberts/ Mceverly another season which is a depressing thought especially as i think they're all on good wages :(

I'd lump Storey in as essential to tie up. And De Vita actually.

It was said on Wilts radio earlier that it is 9 players who's contracts run out so that sounds about right.

Five 2nd year scholars offered deals- not exactly sure who but think it's Aaron Oakley, Mark Francis, Alex Ferguson, Connor Waldon and Louis Thompson

Edit: Official Twitter confirmed the names- all one year deals- would like to have seen two for Louis T but there we go.

that's 5 of our first XI for August then

Here we go again then...

THE SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

1. Wes Foderingham (2014)
30. Leigh Bedwell (2013 - Out of Contract)


DEFENDERS

2. Troy Archibald-Henville (2014)
3. Jay McEveley (2014)
4. Aden Flint (2013 - Out of Contract)
5. Joe Devera (2013 - Out of Contract)
12. Alan McCormack (2013 - Out of Contract)
15. Nathan Thompson (2013 - Out of Contract)
19. Paul Caddis (2015)
22. Darren Ward (2014)
31. Aaron Oakley (2014 - Pending)
32. Chris Smith (2013 - Samsung)

MIDFIELDERS

6. Alan Navarro (2014)
7. Luke Rooney (2014)
8. Simon Ferry (2013 - Out of Contract)
11. Gary Roberts (2014)
18. Tommy Miller (2013 - Out of Contract)
19. Louis Thompson (2014 - Pending)
23. Raffa De Vita (2013 - Out of Contract)
33. Alex Ferguson (2014 - Pending)
37. Mark Francis (2014 - Pending)
--. Lee Cox (2014)

FORWARDS

9. James Collins (2014)
14. Paul Benson (2014)
16. Andy Williams (2014)
20. Miles Storey (2013 - Out of Contract)
34. Connor Waldon (2014 - Pending)
--. Kayden Smith (2014 - Samsung)

CONTRACT OFFERS:

Louis Thompson (1 year)
Mark Francis (1 year)
Connor Waldon (1 year)
Aaron Oakley (1 year)
Alex Ferguson (1 year)


INS:

Kayden Jackson (Albion Sports, Samsung)

OUTS:


LOAN OUTS:

Don't forget that Paul Caddis is still a Swindon Town asset until he's sold. His contract runs out in summer of 2015 I believe?

Well it would seem to fit the presumed scenario, of a major cull of out of contract senior players to be replaced by something a bit more affordable.  I'm not quite sure that some of our fans, are quite prepared for what lays ahead.

I'm 100% sure that none of our fans knows what lays ahead.

Yeppers

I love all this unfounded speculation.

Clauidiu Hoban will be joining us for a trial pre season. He was in the final 3 of the win a pro contract.

He looked quite good, unfortunate injury

I'd be happy enough with this line-up come the first game of the season in August:

Foderingham

Thompson
Ward
Flint
McEveley

Rooney, L
McCormack
Navarro
Roberts

Collins
Rooney, A

THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR RATIONALITY


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!%$^&$&***&eeje;1qk'[135o13oet[PDFKJS'[#rwtlP#KI[#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In fact, Byrne on the right wing ahead of Rooney and Luongo in the middle instead of Navarro would please me a great deal

I don't think Andy Rooney will be staying.

I'd like us to give Byrne a go on the wing.

getting rid of luke rooney and lee cox is next hopefully

He's signning permanently

Who's Andy Rooney?!

What about Adam?

I thought Byrne wasn't staying?

Meh, you knew what I meant - I'm raging so much at the moment having read the Q&A story.

Have we not signed Byrne on free transfer then?

To be fair, we've got so many Rooneys in the squad it is difficult to keep up sometimes!

It's how Jed spells Adam's name

THE SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

1. Wes Foderingham (2014)
30. Leigh Bedwell (2014)


DEFENDERS

2. Troy Archibald-Henville (2014)
3. Jay McEveley (2014)
15. Nathan Thompson (2015)
17. Paul Caddis (2014)
22. Darren Ward (2014)
31. Aaron Oakley (2014)

MIDFIELDERS

6. Alan Navarro (2014)
7. Luke Rooney (2014)
11. Gary Roberts (2014)
19. Louis Thompson (2015)
33. Alex Ferguson (2014)
37. Mark Francis (2014)
--. Lee Cox (2014)

FORWARDS

9. James Collins (2014)
14. Paul Benson (2014)
16. Andy Williams (2014)
20. Miles Storey (2014)
34. Connor Waldon (2014)
--. Kayden Smith (2014 - Samsung)

CONTRACT OFFERS:

Aden Flint (Rejected)
Nathan Thompson (2 years)
Louis Thompson (2 years)
Miles Storey (1 year)
Leigh Bedwell  (1 year)
Mark Francis (1 year)
Connor Waldon (1 year)
Aaron Oakley (1 year)
Alex Ferguson (1 year)

HAVEN'T A CLUE:

Adam Rooney

INS:

Kayden Jackson (Albion Sports, Samsung)

OUTS:

Joe Devera (Portsmouth - Released)
Raffaele De Vita (Released)
Simon Ferry (Released)
Tommy Miller (Released)
Chris Smith (Released)
Alan McCormack (Brentford - Free)
Aden Flint (Bristol City - Undisclosed)

Little bit worrying that our only players contracted until 2015 are the Thompson brothers...

I'm probably wrong on a couple.

The smart-arses will correct me soon.

Wonder if we have an option on Wes? Still not expecting him to be here mind.

Jed has hinted on twitter that Wes has been offered a new contract.

Seriously, that's an impressive response time Flash :)

Have Bedwell and Storey actually signed their contracts?

Flash by name......

Same question can be asked for the first year pros.

I'm assuming and I'll amend if they depart.

Surely we'd have announced something by now if they'd not signed their contracts? Been weeks since they offered/triggered new contracts..

Bedwell and Storey is a fair question as the second year pros but the youth graduates tend to just sign without fanfare.

Squad is looking a little thin isn't it! And more of that lot are going to leave i assume? Cox, L Rooney, Benson at least.

Hear the squad are back on the 24th June for preseason, wonder how many will be there day 1

Fixtures are out next week.....Wolves away first up anybody?

Don't forget Caddis, Costanza!

Mind you, he'll be gone by August. He's probably still reeling at how much of a cunt Di Canio was to him for daring to become a father.

Surely Bedwell will have signed the contract faster than Flasheart can post!? Couldn't see him getting anything from another football league club, Storey may not have signed though.. It has been a little bit tedious guessing who has and hasn't signed contracts though what with the whole "triggering" of contracts ect

Storey signed straight away i'm sure, he was interviewed about it on the official website at the end of season

Bedwell and Storey both signed, unless my memory has failed me.

I remember them getting congratulations over twitter and stuff.

Birmingham have offered to take Paul Caddis on a season long loan I believe. Hopefully we hold out for a fee.

I bet that would please Neal Eardley unless they move Caddis in to midfield.

I want a Thompson/Caddis right hand side, that'd be dreamy..

Midfield is the biggest concern if it remains as is.

Rooney, Cox, Navarro and Roberts would be capable of doing a job.

I can assure you this is not true at all, they have not made any contact with the club for a loan thats 100% untrue.

Red Jed, either the clue to your true identity is in your name, or that is one of the best played attempts at fishing I have ever seen.

My name is Jed and I am a red...nothing more ;)

If Red Jed is the real Jed (which he could be because he lives on the interweb)...

Don't fucking sell Wes Foderingham or James Collins! Also offer Dostoyevsky the role of Communications Manager/Head of PR.

Oh and don't sign Adam Rooney. Bin that fucking contract of his or make some freaky shit up about not being able to sign him because we found a dead mouse with the date 1943 tattooed on its back in Rooney's locker or somesuch.

Jed, I heard you lost your left nut in a fight with a ferret, can you confirm this to be true or false.

Luongoooooo

Is this a definite? Would be happy with this signing, think he showed some good things when he was here. His goal against Brentford was class. The tackle for the penalty, clearly less so!

We need a little more than that tans.

Luongoooooooooooooooooooooo

Luongo and Byrne are surely 2 of the 6/7 new players Jed has stated?

LUONGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

5 more players to leave quoting adver
so doing a quick name check it seems 18 ish players (providing 6 or 7 come in) and
we then have the 5 youth players who signed up for
this season.

Its just me isn't it, not sure I'm that excited by Luongo and Byrne. Don't get me wrong,  Luongo I think could be a hell of a player one day.

To me Byrne had a couple of good games, nothing more.

I'd hope and expect to see experience alongside Luongogogogogogogogo if he comes. I'd be more comfortable seeing some names linked in the adver that aren't Spurs/Premier League kids rejects.

I'd be disappointed to see Byrne back.

Luongo in a way reminds me of a young never played much proper first team football lesser Simon Ferry.

Byrne was a liability when I saw him - non-league standard.

Luongo showed a little but looked inferior to Ferry in every department bar physical presence. Byrne looked like a 16yr old playing men's football...

Neither inspire me. Let's have some proven men who can do a job at this level please Jed.

 I hope the 5 include...Cox, Benson, Caddis and Rooney, because that leaves just Roberts, which wouldn't be so bad as we'd at least still have a keeper, a centre half and a couple of strikers

I don't think Cox will be going anywhere. Replace him with Ward or a decent bid for Collins (maybe both) and you've got your 5

Why, because of injury ?

I think so, out till october so would doubt someone would sign him. unless we released him while he was injured which would not look good on us.

It's all getting a bit frustrating certainly.  Jed stated at the end of the season that a deal was agreed for Byrne (who I do not think was as bad as some on here made out) but we have never been told he has signed.  I am sure it was said that Luongo was looking for a championship club and "unlikely" to come back.

So if not Cox, then it will be another one of the players most would prefer to keep.

The problem we got now is that players like Ward Navaro and Roberts are getting to the stage in their career  where this season is key to how and where they finish their playing days.If they want a new two year deal next summer they know the wont get it here on the current wage hence why their agents are taking advantage of the situation and trying to sort two or three year deals elsewhere.

In my opinion Ward is the big loss but i have to say all the 3 mentioned look like their legs are ready to go at any minute. I am actually looking forward to a young hungry squad next year and genuinly believe youngsters will want to play for him,they have heard of him and he is know for being a great coach with youngsters,i think last year that was his downfall,the experienced players had no respect for him whatsoever.

I'm quite excited by the prospect of a young side, but also a bit wary. It can go either way! I'd still like us to have a few experienced heads in there personally.

The thing to remember is look at Walsall. They looked doomed when we played them at their place but their young team came good. Patience.

Swindon fans & patience have never gone hand in hand!

Depends, what sort of patients?  :insane:

Paying £25 a pop, I don't see why our fans should be patient. Paying those prices, our fans should quite rightly expect a playoff challenge at least. If the club aren't aiming for that then charge less.

Well then we will never be successful.

Roberts released from his contract.

Blimey.

I consider that as good news.