Thetownend.com

Bring it on. I will be in attendance, so let's stuff the Bantams. 3 of Bradford's 4 wins this season came in August  :eek: We really need to turn someone over at home, let's hope Saturday is that day.

Swindon 3-1 Bradfud (Att: 10,004 with 856 away)

Probably another draw! Would love to see 10K in the County Ground but think we'll fall short (even with a decent away support)

Well we had nearly 9200 home fans against Rochdale. Add another few hundred because we are up to 3rd and Bradford are probably a bigger draw than Dale. Bradford will bring more. Should be around 10k in my opinion.

Swindon to suffer a single goal defeat in front of 9,845 fans with 785 Bradford fans there.

What are peoples thoughts on trying Kesler Hayden at left wing back. I really think we lose so much down the left with the final ball being so poor at times.

If he himself is comfortable there I am all for it, at worst though I would still put Hunt at LB even though hes way more comfortable at RB.

Also it does depend if his parent club will allow that, but at the end of the day they will benefit from his versatility if it does work, nothing to lose really.

Dabre didn't look out of place there at Plymouth TBH and hasn't featured in the squad since!

Would prefer Hunt at LWB - already proven in that position

I’d leave Iandolo there as he is improving and provides a real threat on that side.
I like the balance of left footed player on the left and right footed players on the right if we have that choice.

As long as we get more than the 5,673 the piss stains got at home last night  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Tinpot

Im missing...

I'm in complete agreement. BG sees him as a threat down that side as we tend to favour attacks down the left when he plays.

I know, I won't be  ;)

Seems to me that out of our WB, Iandolo plays the further forward of the two but neither actually takes on the full back to get to the by-line. It appears to be the plan to cut inside and feed the ball into midfield runners. To get frustrated about it seems pointless.

If you switch Hunt to LWB the play is the same, we still won't get crosses in.

But you will have KKH on the right to do that.  I don't think it is a bad thing to have one more defensive minded full back and one more attacking.  When that WB goes forward the other defensive minded one drops in for a 4 at the back.  Hunt is better defensively than Iandolo, KKH is better attacking than Hunt and Iandolo - hence my belief that I think Hunt at LWB and KKH at RWB would be  a good option.

I agree totally, its good when people lay out their reasoning behind why they prefer certain options as I always try to, rather than just saying "you are picking on somone" or hes just better etc etc. A difference of opinions is good when they are reasoned arguments.

I prefer bacon baps without sauce these days. No idea why.

Surely incredibly dry?

I'm a bit confused by the Iandolo criticism by people on here. Think he's solid, a threat going forwards and growing into the position more and more.

I feel he is our weak link in the team, unfortunately. Not a criticism but the fact is he has not had one assist has he this season? He has been in so many dangerous positions that that is just not good enough for me personally

100%

I think when we're at home and need to break down defensive teams, we need our best attacking full backs, which in my opinion is KKH on the right and Iandolo on the left. Three at the back and a defensive midfielder should be enough to defend against counter attacks, especially if the full back not involved in the attack hangs back for additional cover. We then have Hunt on the bench who is better defensively and can cover either side, either through injury or if one of the 'attacking' full backs is having a difficult time against a particular winger !

Interested to gauge opinions on team selection for this one.

Does BG stick with the winning team from Tuesday?

Maybe KKH for Hunt or even Iandolo, switching Hunt to LWB.

Williams to start or recall Gladwin to starting line up, having said post match it was simply rotation. Or Gladwin for Payne to accommodate both Gladwin and Williams?

Up front can't see any change from Simpson and McKirdy.

Hoping Conroy is fit, having said that Baudry was excellent for the last 30 mins at Sutton, after a shaky spell either side of half time.

Watched highlights of Bradford's game with Hartlepool. They looked weak defensively, particularly from attacking positions out wide. Possibly a reason to start KKH on right and Iandolo on left, to get more crosses in.

2-0 win, scorers Simpson and McKirdy, with 9k in attendance.

100%

Bradford are not doing very well for such a big club at this level, reading their forum they have booed the team off at home several times already this season, they lost 3-1 at home on Tuesday against an improving Hartlepool team.

They are very average this season sitting in 12th place with 4 wins 5 draws and 4 defeats scoring 17 and conceding 16 so far. Last 6 results in all comps is LLWDDL. Our last 6 in all comps is DWWWDW.

Bradford have just 1 win in the last 9 games.

Just sat through the highlights of their last 5 games and they obviously have a speed issue at the back, Songo'o looks a real weak link, slow and not great tackling he could be ideal for Simpson to press with a bit of pace that he has got, all Songo'o has going for him is size and strength, he looks slow and cumbersome and has scored 3 OG's in the last 5 games.

They are another team who seem to put the most pressure on from set pieces and Ridehalgh seems to be a shadow when we had him and their keeper O'Donnell has commited a fair few errors as well that resulted in goals.

Even Pitman scored against them and Kovar kept a clean sheet in that run of 5 games!

A very young Man Utd U21 team tore them apart by passing the ball around the way we do.

Lets just not get complacent at home and batter a team as we have threatened to do many times so far but never quite got there, yet.

1-1

Att: 9,123

I didn't criticise Iandolo, I just think that KKH and Hunt are better all round players.  I quite like Iandolo as a player, much more than I used to, I just don't really know what he is - i think his stint at CB changed my view on him.  I think he has matured quite a bit but, I do think his final ball has disappeared.  He used to get down the byeline and put decent crosses in, he doesn't seem to do that anymore, he seems to run into trouble or pass sideways.  You can say the same about Hunt, however Hunt is stronger defensively, therefore I think Iandolo is the weaker player out of our 3/4 options at WB/FB.

I think he is a victim of his versatility.  And I agree with Shrivvy, out of our first team squad - i think he is our weakest link, possibly because of that versatility.

I don't think anyone has said Iandolo is shit, just that in a good team he would be singled out as the weakest player in the team currently and an area that IMO could be improved upon.

I don't hate or dislike any of our current squad since Curran left, I just think Iandolo has developed as far as he can after 100 first team games in 7 years, I think this is the highest level he will probably play at regularly. Last season at CB and when he has played in a defensive role in midfield he did quite well, but he struggles defensively when asked to play left back.

For reference KKH has one assist (last week against Rochdale) and Hunt hasn't got any. Are they good enough then? We've got 3 decent full backs who all have their particular strengths and I can't understand why Iandolo is supposedly the weak link...

Why is it hard to believe some people would think one of the eleven players is not as good as another of the eleven players?

Is Iandolo the best defensive left back we have - I'd argue not, it is not a FACT! though, my opinion.
Is Iandolo, currently, a bit worse with his final ball than a few seasons ago - I'd argue yes
Is Iandolo getting himself into good attacking positions - I'd argue yes

Why is it controversial to use a football forum to provide opinions on the playing abilities of our players?

Is Iandolo better than Brophy, BOO, Barry et al, the vast majority would agree that he is.

Has Baudry been a bit ropey in the past season, hell yes, did he play well in the last game, he certainly did by most accounts including mine.

Iandolo is a player I want to do well, I have an opinion that left back or wing back is not helping him develop to his full potential.  I also think Hunt is much better at right back, but, I think he is more reliable in defence than Iandolo at left back which is the first attribute that position needs.  Hunt gets forward far less than Iandolo, but KKH has more forward potential than both, so you can offset.  Garner is hardly going to read this forum to pick his team, so it doesn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things.  People get very touchy.

I can pick holes in Payne if you'd like?  It doesn't mean I think he is shit, I think is a very good player.

The football app I use has the ratings in this order...

Landolo   7.11
KKH         7.04
Hunt         6.74

With KKH creating the most chances etc.

I imagine Garner looks at results and performances and sees that with Iandolo in that team we’ve done rather well. It’s probably the longest run in the first XI he’s had. He’s probably better in midfield, tbh, but with the numbers and talents we have in that department I’d doubt he get in much.

Surely, when some were castigating Hunt earlier on in the season when playing him on the left are the same as those who now want to return him there so as to accommodate KKH.

The bottom line is - it’s a fantastic problem for us and Garner to have!

Nail on the head. Miles better than left backs we've had before!

Of course it's fine to criticise players and that's what forums are for. Just personally think calling Iandolo the weak link is harsh and inaccurate. My opinion. Football has lots of them of course, that's what makes it so great!  ;)

He's no Jamie Vincent, of that we can be sure.

I think its hard to argue against the fact the weakest part of our team is LWB. I was surprised one wasn't brought in over the summer, and expect on in during Jan. Such a shame Donohue had his problems, that guy would have given us so much more.

Looked at some highlights and their Paddie O'conner (#4) is the left defender.  he is slow and completely out of position. A sucker for the 1-2 pass.  I think the wings could have many opportunities against him.  the rest of the defense then is slow to adjust for his poor play which then opens up passing lanes.  

I will say they seem to be strong in the air.  their set pieces and corners, they seem to get on the ball often, especially Cook #9.    Our defense is going to have to limit set plays.

their defense is clueless though.  If mckirdy is in, i think his speed will drive them crazy. 

It is genuinely like having Ted Lasso on here.  :D

are you implying I dont know the game???   

They like to use the wing T formation

Not at all. Just different terminology. Two countries separated by the same language as some one once said... Churchill probably, he said a lot of things. It's all good though👍😉

I understand that....i generally don't know what the hell I am saying either..

much prefer the triple option w/strong I formation as base....if not then the wishbone is the way to go  :D

Looked pretty good to me. Good research, certainly more than I could ever be bothered to do 😉

Added time multi-ball.

As OST said, it’s the wording of it.  :)

Do you think we should go with a two TE set ;)

I think he is weaker than the other 2 yes. It's not a character assassination or anything mate we are discussing footballers maybe being better than other ones

I like the air raid offence.  We ran it for about 3 years.

No Conroy tomorrow, otherwise everyone available.

Will be interesting to see how we play without him at home. Might actually help us at home in a way as may stop some of the sideways passing across the back line.

don't see Conroy like that myself.

if anything he goes for a Hollywood ball a bit too often..

He does try them a little too often but sometimes they do come off and if you dont buy a ticket you dont win the raffle!

He reminds me more of Ross McLaren than Glenn Hoddle though.

But we do look weaker without him for sure.

Last stats I saw he’d made 100 passes more than any other player in the division, which equated to about 20% above the next most which was ironically Crichlow. I think the tactic works well away from home as if diffuses the opposition but at home it plays into the oppositions tactics.

I thought we would have sold more tickets for this to date.  :hmmm:

Yep I agree it is still looking quite blue on the ticket page.

You won’t see any changes to way the team is set up.
All about ball retention and playing through the lines. Just hope we don’t get forced into mistakes tomorrow as Conroy is the player that is pivotal to our moves out from the back.

Always the possibility of a heart in mouth moment or two when Baudry plays.
Based on Tuesday night I would trust him to do ok.
Just a case of keeping it simple and picking the right moments for bringing the ball out.

Was that Baudrys approach against Sutton? It might slightly change the approach play tomorrow then.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Grant come in for Baudry tomorrow and us go for a 4-2-3-1.

……………....Wollacott
KKH…Odimayo…Crichlow…Hunt
…………….Grant…Reed
…….Payne….McKirdy….Williams
……………….Simpson

Does STFC ever play a 3-5-2?  have another attacker on the top. put McKirdy up there with simpson?  Or another way of looking at it as a 3-4-1-2....having the outsides wingbacks for defense and attack.  then the central 2 in a diamond with the "1" attacking Midfielder that then turns into a diamond as well with the 2 strikers.   
seems like to me Bradford's defense is shit so attack quick and get a few goals in.

It’s not a million miles away from how we have lined up the last few games.

Thought he played it quite safe by his standards on Tuesday although the iFollowers would have had a much better take on that.
He doesn't have the range of passing that Conroy has so it's down to the midfield to provide the options.

For me that looks a good line up, Garner seems to prefer 3 centre back even if 1 is Baudry, who on Tuesday TBF played ok, other than the handball for the penalty.

Think if we were ever going to go 4232 we’d have done it by now.

A few views about tomorrow from Bradford fans, they seem very confident it seems.

I think the 3 centre backs thing is the go to formation because of the option it gives to get possession from the keeper and when we win the ball back.  Few teams are keen to send that many players on a press so it gives the option of retaining possession more easily for us.

Very true, we can see why Garner chooses this option, but for me I prefer 2 at centre back as it gives us 1 more attacking/midfield option.

Not conceding means you don't lose games, not scoring means you dont win games, I err more towards scoring goals rather than not conceding, much like Kevin Keegan, certainly at home where we do not seem to take many risks going forwards.

I think that the additional midfielder / forward that a back four would allow is compensated by the way that the wing backs are used.
Not sure that the new spirit of transparency would extend to heat maps being shared with the fans but I wouldn't be surprised if they show that the wing backs spend a good proportion of the game in the opposition half.

Just on the question of crossing as well.
Don't think that there is the same onus on volume of crosses coming in now as there was in the curtailed title winning season.

Reason: Simpson is still learning and doesn't always take up the expected position of a CF in the box.
If anything McKirdy is more likely to do that but is more difficult to pick out due to his stature.
That's just my take on it anyway.

I don’t expect to see any changes to the set up but at home just passing endlessly sideways for a sustained period of time does work and opposition are letting us do it hence the ridiculous pass numbers. What I’m saying is that if a slightly more cautious defender comes in it likely to lead to us being a bit quicker out of our third which could actually help us at home.

I think we all know the line will almost certainly be -

              Wollacott
       Odimayo  Baudry  Crichlow 
KKH             Reed                 Iandolo
   Payne       McKirdy        Williams
               Simpson

The only 2 possible changes being Gladwin for Williams or Hunt for KKH depending on fitness etc.

4232? You sure mate? :D

I can see why DV thinks that would give us the advantage....

Just watched the highlights of Bradford v Hartlepool - not sure they offer much useful insight, bar the Bradford player who clearly tried to score from a drop ball after a clash of heads, naughty boy. There's shithousery and there's just plain unsportsman like behaviour.

I think we should keep the same formation, i don't think it has been the style of football that has cost us but just players missing guilt edged chances. We will be fine

Rush goalies?  :)

I don't think they are wrong about the home pitch being in the minds of the players some...but from what little I have seen of this team, their defense is not good....we can easily score a few early and the could very well just quit

Thats funny!!!! I am going to be honest....the whole reason I joined this forum is to learn more creative and graphic swear words!!    :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

What the coach is doing has been working so i can't complain too much...but as a coach myself, i would see this game as an opportunity to try a more aggressive attack....if it doesn't work, it isnt hard to let you players know to shift into another formation...my high school players can shift between many formations based on game situations, I am sure these fellas can.

Yes (no)

Shithousery aka The Dark Arts is all about eating up time when you're away from home and holding onto a slender lead/an undeserved point. Keeper takes ages on every goal kick/players on throw ins, players go down with mystery injuries, running the ball in the corner, etc. Frustrating as hell for the opposition when it's done well. When it's done badly it will bite you in the arse (see Leyton Orient at Port Vale a couple of weeks ago).

You mean like Rochdale last week ??.

I will have to say then i am the king of coaching Shithousery...my shitty "c" team won or tied many games against teams that were far superior to us by me finding ways to kill the clock....pissed some coaches off completely...fuck em...i believe in winning  :smugfu:

Hopefully all efforts on goal by The Bantams will be rejected by JJW and the defensive unit leading to a much needed shut out at home.

REJECTED out of bounds by the goaltender for an apex restart

Not losing is considered a win, just ask Luke Williams. (Ex manager)

Just bought a ticket online. How do i get the digital ticket?

They have only sent me a confirmation email

Should get another e-mail titled "your digital match ticket(s)" with a pdf link to the ticket.

Me and Miss Hans taking both kids tomorrow. Little girl is 4 and likes kicking a ball around. Lad is 8 and up to this point has zero interest in it. Hopefully i wont miss too many key moments of the game!

Is that straight after or does it take a while to come through?

It sent it to spam, however the button to add to apple wallet doesnt work

Load of crap

Yeah was a faf for me on Android as well so I just end up printing them.

I don’t think Grant will play in front of Baudry.

I certainly hope he doesn't play behind him...

I would be amazed if we line up differently to the starting line up from Tuesday.
Clearly unless we are forced to.

I agree - with the proviso that Gladwin may come in for Williams if they are looking to manage the playing time of both of them.

https://youtu.be/mWDgA2lwEK4

Clean sheet and 3 points today. 2-0 with goals from Mckirdy x2 in front of 9,897

Looking at the online tickets sales, would be surprised if we reach 9k today.

I think they've got a point, if you consider an away point a good result, then, any team visiting the County Ground must feel confident.
I'm in two minds to turn up today. England v WI T20 live on TV at 3 or what as been recently, disappointment in poor results.
I'd kick myself if Town plucked out a win at home and I missed it. What a quandary?
My prediction, 2 1 defeat. Monkey on back rolling on.

We have to win at home eventually.

Easy, go to the game but have the cricket on your mobile just in case :)

...but probably not today

Happy 19th birthday to KKH for today, I have a feeling he will score his first goal for us today.

Currently abroad(canaries)…any easy way of watching this game free dya know? Ta

Not free but for 10 euros via ifollow.

Cheers…might splash out!

Its a decent quality TBF and being its in euros is cheaper than buying it in the uk with the exchange rate.

Only thing is, hotel WiFi is shite

Find a local Macdonalds ;)

Even that is bloody closed 🙄

Dabre and Parsons both score in beating the piss stains Academy earlier today!

Wollacott; Odimayo, Crichlow, Baudry, Gladwin, Simpson, Payne (C), McKirdy, Williams, Hunt, Reed.

SUBS | Ward, Iandolo, Mitchell-Lawson, Gilbert, Kesler-Hayden, East, Grant.

Apart from dropping Iandolo.

Apart from Gladwin and Iandolo!

they've swapped places.

oh wait. maybe that's what you meant

So whose playing LWB?

Yeah I just saw and deleted my post :)

I would say Williams.

Keeps him out of Payne’s way, I suppose. And vice versa of course.

Garner said Williams certainly wouldn't play WB for him after he turned out there for Wales.  Wondering if we'll be a 4 at the back today?

Flat back four innit.

Well I have a feeling another draw is in the offing. However, if we can get ahead early it would course will bring the Bantams out which you’d like to think we could exploit. Go behind and an afternoon of huffing and puffing could be on the cards.

Did he mate? I missed that! sounds like thats not it then!

are the stands that the ifollow camera shows considered the "main" stands for pitch?  also in the background i can see other football fields...are those for the team or do youth and others use them?

Ross Embleton co-commentating this afternoon and speaks well to be fair.

He definitely did, I won't try to find it, will be interesting to see if he back tracks on it

The Don Rogers stand where the camera is based is the popular stand for fans and is almost always near capacity (5,000ish).

(https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/siteassets/202122/mansfield-h/swindon_mansfield_cf1_0159.jpg)

The pitches in the backround are the plastic pitches of the County Ground extention, Community Foundation.

(https://www.stfcfoundation.com/resources/images/_promo/Screen-Shot-2020-01-23-at-15.46.30.png)

so we are not seeing the main stands since the camera is situated on that side...we are seeing the other side of the pitch then?

I believe you! I just never heard him say it but I dont listen to many of his interviews unless they are pre match TBH.

Definitely a back 4 as they are warming up as a unit now.

Be interesting to see whether that’s a change in formation as on paper we only have one wing back playing but two on the bench.

Unless we’re going to stick Gladwin at wing back?!

if i saw that right they are starting in a 4-4-2?  In the US that is more of a defensive set.....is the coach trying to weather an early storm with the "home" field getting in players heads??

Don't think Gladwin will play at fullback, especially left back as hes is more right footed.

A bit disappointed for KKH if we are going 4 at the back and Baudry comes in before him and not moving Odimayo to CB.

Garner has a plan though.

iFollow (audio) on away feed only for anyone?

Not for me mate.

Think Bradford’s team has been listed wrong. Andy Cook not in the squad today.

I believe you can change it.there is a spot in lower right of the screen that you can go from home and away feeds

(https://i.postimg.cc/nVYX3Ctf/FCYu62-MX0-AMoy0-R.jpg)

Not on the audio-only EFL iFollow app, sadly. The video feed usually gives both options but the audio-only feed tends to be two separate feeds and they give us the wrong one half the time.

good to know..thanx

In fairness that formation will be the formation whoever did the graphic *thinks* we will play.
On the Sky Sports app they usually have the formation as one thing pre kick off and change it once we are actually playing and they actually know how we are lining up.

Another teams of basketball players.

Definately back four at the moment.

Great ball to Simpson who shoots and its deflceted for a corner.

Great vision from Gladwin. We're beginning to see his skills now.

Lovely pass from Gladwin to Simpson who has first shot.

Payne fouled 30 yards out near the touchline.

Quite end to end stuff so far.

#9 is a big sum bitch!!!! need to watch him on the crosses

Everyone has looked very good on the ball so far.

Two blocks from Baudry, followed by pinball in midfield. Williams breaks down the left but cross goes behind. Goal kick.

Then I lost my stream!!!

Gladwin moved to the left now

Baudry's actually brought the ball forward well a few times here.

He did, terrible final ball though at the end of it.

Bradford keeping disciplined with their defensive shape.

Gladwin a few inches away from putting Simpson through with a long pass.

We are doing a lot of work moving the ball around

Jojos long passing has been quite poor so far.

Let Bradford chase shodows for a bit.

They are pressing us quite high.

We are controlling possession very impressively so far

It's worked a couple of times there.

0-1

0-1 smash and grab.

Can’t deal with long throws same goal we conceded to Carlisle

First chance for Bradford and we are 1-0 down! ,

If we thought they sat deep before, they will be even deeper now..

Thought that was poor keeping from where I am sat.

We have been passing it well but all our final balls have been pretty awful so far, way over hit.

They are big and direct, basically another long ball team and we aren’t winning anything in the air.

Bradford all over us.

I think that may be a bit harsh on Jojo, his staring position wasn't great but he got a hand to it still at full length but not enough to keep it out.

Great defending Baudry

On the back foot a bit now.

Block from Baudry or it would have been 2-0!

Baudry heads the corner away.

Other than a couple of his final passes hes been playing quite well so far.

We're rushing the balls into the box. We need to keep playing to feet and turn the defenders.

They are big, strong and direct and we are struggling to deal with that.

Already looks like we need another centre mid today, Reed is on his own. They are right on us when we lose the ball.

Yellow for Baudry.

Bradford comms not happy about that Baudry tackle.

Long ball from Wollacott to McKirdy, who took it down well. But defender did well to get ball off him.

Bradford attack and Baudry fouls to get yellow. Shot goes wide. But brought back for freekick.

Pre game I watched the Bradford highlights from their last 5 or 6 games, they look poor at dealing with players running at them with pace.

Swindon play best when running at the defence with pace.....yet.....today, we are putting too many high long balls into the box rather than doing what we do so well.

McLirdy and Williams linking. Corner Town.

We are way off it.

Poor final cross from Gladwin again.

This formation ain't working. Need to get kkh on the right, odimayo isn't an attacking full back.

Keshi scores for Blackpool, Adebayo for Luton and Mullin for Wrexham.

71% possession and we've done fuck all.

McKirdy back heel nearly puts Williams in

The wife beater has to be at the last chance saloon - 2 nil down at home

McKirdy having a bit of a mare so far.

That job has Mike Flynn written all over it.

Feel for Reed he’s swamped

Crich nearly scores an OG.

Williams and Gladwin so far not really working.

Hunt appears to have taken one firmly in the bollocks from point blank range.

Hunt appears to take a cross in his spunk bunkers.

His bollock under his armpit then?

i realize they want to possess the ball but the insertion passes in the offensive 1/3rd need to be quicker and to open space..they are bringing back 9 players behind the ball the passing lanes to players are tight...spread the field...quicker play

Trying to be too cute with the final ball. Ok for one player to be trying flicks, but 3 are!

No shots at all yet. Usual home fare.

Changes needed.

We should sack Garner for home games but have him manage away games!!!

0-2

This is awful.

Absolute shambles this, no midfield and defenders that can’t deal with aerial balls.

defense is shit today...need to get some nuts and clear a ball...they are getting pushed around....the left back sucks...

Comedy defending.

Hunt not brilliant but Wollacott just stood there as the ball hit the post and came out for th CF to side foot home. 2-0.

We could get a hammering today

Formation change not working here, is it?

Ref eventually makes the right decision to give us a freekick for challenge on Williams....from my perspective anyway!

Poor hands by the keeper but he still saves the free kick.

Looks like an afternoon of huffing and puffing lies ahead.

Get Grant and KKH on.

It’s all very well Garner setting up exactly the same home as away but when it’s clearly not working he needs to come up with something different.

Reed freekick punched away awkwardly.

I don't give a shit what Garner says, we have a problem at home.

agreed!  and philosophy change some as well...play has to be quicker and with urgency....cant just pass it around all day

We have set up differently today.

But the play is the same

Definately, hook off Gladwin and Williams, go 5 at the back.

maybe a ridiculous thought but they players seem sluggish once again at home vs away games....do they not have the discipline to get rest or whatever the night before when they are at home????  they out drinking all night or something?

That would be a very odd thing to do.

HT 0-2 pretty poor so far, Bradford are not much cop but they know how to deal with us, we have a lot of passengers so far too and the players dont seem comfortable with the formation.

Awful awful awful half. No way he can sugar coat that with possession stats today.

damage limitation.

Well, shove your possession football up your arse!
72% with no shot on target and only 1 all half. Fucking abysmal showing.

I think Bradford have defended well. A bank of 5 and 3 in front. The two front players are quick and tall and given license to roam. They have been dangerous on the counter.

bradford is happy to let us pass the ball around and mark up the forward players so when we try an incertion pass to a player they are right there...need to get the ball to open space on the outsides...dont wait for a wing or striker to get there then pass...send ball to corner and let striker run on to it....if we can establish the outside, the inside will open up again for possession passes there....

Bradford have done their homework well but our formation is fooking shite.

Tbh, we could have lost every home game this season. It’s dreadful to watch - not just today.

Fans aren’t going to keep coming back to watch this shit much longer.

What a terrible half. We look very short of ideas. I’d personally never play Hunt and Odimayo as both the full backs because it limits you so much going forwards. KKH on 2nd half please but can’t see us getting anything here

will that was shite

can't get Williams or mckirdy into the game.

gladwin has at least tried to spring attacks.

can we bring payne on? oh what, he's actually playing.

feel asleep after second goal. literally

You think we should try to keep the score down?

Akin gets in great positions but does fuck all with. Won't take a guy on, too too predictable. Akin off KKH on, birthday boy to turn it around.

Hunt and ? to come off.  Like to see 5:3:2 in second half for more width.

yes!

Well, that was pretty terrible.

That half is entirely on the Head Coach in my eyes.  Yes, the players are not at the races, but the set-up and defensive tactics from set pieces have conceded the game.

I can see why we go for a back four - Bradford have set-up to sit in and a third centre half would be a waste in possession.  But, what the fuck have we set-up going forward?  Five midfielders tripping over each other in the middle and two full backs chosen to defend set pieces I imagine so no desire or ability to attack the final third.  We've basically pulled the pitch in by 10 yards either side and played into the 10 men of Bradford.  Odd does not describe it.

Then the defending of set pieces - three times Reed is marking their number 9 from the long throw in and all three times he loses the challenge.  That cannot be a surprise given his 5ft nothing.  It's no point having the centre half and Odimayo in the 6 yard box if we just let them win the first ball anyway.  Same goes for free kicks - several times Simpson hasn't come back or known he should be coming back.  It's simple - we need height, prepare the players to defend it as best we can.  We may still concede a chance, but we've allowed them to get chances easily.

Overall, bad management that one and then bad execution from the players who have shown no personal responsibility to change anything.

The formation needs changing, maybe the personnel to.

Teams like this will be our Kryponite, so we may not win many of them, but we are not even giving ourselves a chance in this one.

Garner just seems devoid of ideas at home where the onus is on us, home attendances will fall off a Cliff soon as it’s both a poor watch and poor results wise and that will mean issues financially.

Changes needed to start the 2nd half. Not after 60 minutes.

Still can’t see us getting anything, mind you.

We need to get it wide and attack the full backs. We seem so narrow and predictable as always cut inside. My dad persuaded me to come today. Should have gone Xmas shopping 🙄

KKH will be on for Hunt, that will be the first change.

Keep it down to 0-2 and try and hit them on the break, nothing is working today, Bradford are a bit shit but have a game plan that we cannot cope with, we are not creating anything and look powderpuff at the back today.

I doubt Garner will make any changes at HT and will wait until about the 70th minute before bring on KKH and JML.

Poor team selection from Garner unless there's injuries. Neither full back any good but two on the bench who could play there. He's been reading the Iandolo advice from here.

Game isn't over. That was shit, but no reason the second half can't be good enough to turn it round. Will need to play differently though, big half time for Garner - he got the changes right on Tuesday, time to do it again.

Almost like we should have never dropped Iandolo ey?

Spot on

Should have stayed at home convalescing. Not scored three at home in the league yet have we?

Well, well, well, Bradford nice and solid with 2 forwards working nicely as a pair whereas Simpson and Harry aren't any threat. We have no wide midfielders hugging the touch line as in previous weeks so narrow and mostly going through the middle. Neither full back has an real inclination to bomb foward and Simpson not in the game.

Two poor goals to give away, lots of work to do, somehow we need to be stronger and win more battles.

Draw at best from here.

Fuck me, we’ve only scored 4 altogether!

I have no issue with the back four decision, or keeping Odimayo as right back, but you can't have both Odimayo and Hunt as your full backs.  In that situation you have to have Iandolo as left back if you think you need Odimayo's height.  Or you have Hunt for defensive cover at left back and have KKH to open up the right wing.  The choice today has closed both flanks down.  Iandolo has been poor at delivery, but his driving presence would at least cause a defender to have to think about it.

Groaned when saw the formation, hasn't worked yet at home.

He’s played in all the other home games where we’ve been poor….  It’s less personnel and more general tactics and set up at home.

100% this

Perhaps.

His biggest critics being the most critical of our poor play too.

I’d say fuck it and go three up front. Simpson in the middle, McKirdy one side of him and another (JML, Gladwin, Parsons?)


I have no issues with us using a back for but think you need to go two holders in midfield and three attack mids to keep the width

+1

So the reason we are playing so bad is because Iandolo is not on the pitch..  Jesus wept..

I don’t think we’ve been this poor though. The last couple of home games we’ve been the better side. This has been wank

Quite. An afternoon of huffing and puffing.

Worst half of the season. Bradford are shit and 2 nil up.

It’s no doubt contributed.
As him being out the team has changed the formation and balance.

I’ll keep up with things on here. Can’t bring myself to actually watch this tripe.

Maybe I’ll peep in if we get a goal back

I agree that Kaine needs to come on, but I have no idea whether he can play on the left. I think Payne and Williams don't work together. I'd take one of those two off, put Kaine on the right and put Gladwin more central.

Spot on again.. 

KKH on for Crich.

Cricket's going well mind

Now, now. 😁 It's the formation change thats done it today.

Huffing and puffing would be an improvement!

now need to establish a wide field and attack.....

The issue is a compounded one - going back four could have worked, but it needed width from either one of the fullbacks or some midfielders hugging the touchline.  We had everyone narrow and two fullbacks who do not attack well on their respective sides.

The compounding issue is that you selected that back four to defend their threat at set pieces and long balls, fair enough, but then we leave a dwarf marking their flick on man at every set piece.

Any of these alone could be overcome maybe, but all three create the perfect storm.

Crazy one, that. Baudry is on a yellow.

Why has he brought on KKH when its obvious we need Iandolo according to some.

Baudry wins a corner.

Absolutely know one has said that.

Gladwins wins a corner.

No it hasn't, you could have played the same previous formation with KKH and Hunt, as talked about earlier in the thread.  The change of formation and the choice of replacement personnel is the reason we are losing not the fact that Iandolo isn't there..

this ref is fucking crazy...a card on that???

McKirdy is not having a good afternoon so far.

On a ban now?

Not sure a right footer on the left adds width and they’d no doubt be looking to drift inside.

Iandolo is part of the formation & personnel change though? That’s the point, isn’t it?

Att: 9,461 (425 Brads)

Feeble turnout from "big club" Bradford. 421.

He's not been booked has he? I didn't see it anyway?

We are getting nada from this ref

Fair…but…not quite the same as someone saying we ‘obviously need Iandolo on’ don’t you think?

I assume people’s comments re: Iandolo are more about the shape, formation and width of the team rather than Iandolo’s specific play.

play, energy and intent is much better so far this half..
makes you wonder why the hell the plan and effort wasnt there in the 1st half.

We are showing some urgency, but no end product.

Spson and McKirdy are anonymous.

The thing is its very easy to say "whoever" would have changed the game. We just don't know TBH, any player can make a difference with 1 bit of skill, but to say we shouldnt have dropped him is a bit silly, he may be injured? Garner may have thought they would expose him defensively?

Its all guesswork anyway, its easy to say a player will change things when he may, he may not.

I can't see why Garner dropped Iandolo so I am erring towards Iandolo carrying a knock anyway and not having been dropped. Garner doesnt like changing the shape of the team unless there is good reason.

Awful miss by the Bradford striker.

Tranmere brought more on a Tuesday. soapy tit wank at Bradfud massive support  :)

OK, let's just make sure that Iandolo plays every game then - that way we should win every game and play excellent every game..  What is the opposite of a scapegoat?

Should have been 3-0

Should have been 3-0. Why won’t he play a second centre mid? Reed out of the game and they are straight through us!

i think simpson needs to come off...get some more speed and creativity up there...is there a player on the bench that could do that??

Songo nearly puts the ball in his own net.

Miles Storey :D

Another ref here revelling in being the pantomime villian.

McKirdy pretty much anonymous so far, may be worth bringing on Gilbert but more likely it will be JML.

A chance for Gilbert to deliver on his early promise and reputation..

He's playing too far forward to give Gladwin and Williams space. He is doing what we want Simpson to be doing.

Gilbert on for Williams.

not sure that is the guy you want to bring off

Good cross from Gilbert.

mcKirdy tries a hopefull shot from 20 yards, well wide.

See look! McKirdy drops into space and creates something.

Not what I said at all but you carry on…

Good pass from Gilbert but Simpson stays offside going too early.

Lavery well defended by Baudry.

Simpson offside from Gilbert through ball

Keeper yellow for shit housing.

Poor challenge by the Bradford player.

i believe that wasted bit of time is shithausery....correct?

Lavery bad challenge on KKH. Yellow

Yup

I'm surprised the ref didn't play on seeing as he's given us fuck all so far this game

A little bit like you taking what I said and making up your own story, so that's why I let you carry on..  I'll say it one more time, all I said was that Iandolo not being selected is not the reason that we are not playing well..

Andy Cook is the sort of player we could do with up front TBH.

Odimayo saves Baudrys blushes.

His first real mistake today. He's playing well.

Just resorting to aimless stuff now, really poor.

One of our best players today for certain.

Simpson and McKirdy offering very little. Think we probably need to try JML for Simpson.

0-3

Cracker.

we literally have nothing to offer in the final third

FFS! Theo Robinson 3-0

Looked offside.

I think the lino couldn't see that KKH was off the pitch.

As if this shitfest couldn’t get any worse.

Garner is clueless at home.

In my find the commentary team have smashed up the commentary position in protest!

Penalty...for some reason!

Terrible performance. Draw a line in the sand for that one

Pen to Town.

better second half but can't cross for toffee.

then Robinson does they with his first touch FFS.

mini golf and pub time

1-3 Payne

1-3 Payne penalty.

Ref making amends for missing Robinson being offside when he scored.

Hunt puts Payne through on the left. Payne poor cross.

So what’s the rule if a player walks off the pitch where he’s playing the opposition onside?

Ref really doesnt like giving us anything, penalty excepted.

Another poor ball from Baudry puts us under pessure.

We are so poor in the final 3rd of the pitch.

Can only think defender has handled it. Difficult to tell from Replay

Well, KKH would have been there if he wasn't blocked by the defender.

Yeah. But we can’t half knock it around in the middle third.

Odimayo with a rubbish pass at the back that time.

:D

Bradford comms said it was a silly handball.

Oh another Bradford player going to ground to waste time.

JML on for Hunty.

JML for.......

entire team had a poor showing today....better 2nd half but to little too late...but overall the back defense was complete shit.  

Thought Hunt played well today.

I agree.

Baudry probably my MotM today.

Hunt and Baudry have done well at the back.

Payne has run around.

Odimayo OK

The others have been poor

Answered my own question, ref was right unfortunately. Only wouldn’t be playing them onside if he’d asked the ref for permission. Our players not knowing the rules sums today up.

5 mins added pain.

Too many little mistakes for me, although he was probably our best defender..  I struggle to give it to a defender when we have conceded 3 at home..  I would probably give it to Reed.  Not been one stand out performance today though

Nobody deserves MoM on that collective shitfest

Disagree. Two mistakes up the pitch from Baudry. Made half a dozen blocks and defended very well. Without him it could have been 6!

I definitely feel that Simpson needs taking out of the team for a while, the only problem with that is we don't have that replacement, no matter what Garner says

Football shit
Journey home shit, some fucker reeks of BO on the bus  :(
I'm getting pissed tonight.

That's why everyone loves football, opinions are like arseholes - I did say he was our best defender, so we do kind of agree anyway

If we ever lose our away form we’re in dead trouble.

I agree giving MoM to a defender when you havd conceded 3 is almost an oxymoron, but he only really made 2 mistakes for me giving the ball away when attacking, hes won a lot in the air.

Not that anybody really deserves it, but for doing quite well after so long out he edges it for me.

Williams and Payne looked decent at times as did Hunt but the rest, not for me.

Or if we improve our home form, we’re serious promotion candidates. The difference is peculiar though

Great save from McKirdy!

Theatrical save from mckirdys header.

FT 1-3

Home form.

P7  W1  D3  L3  F6  A9

Crap. 3rd from bottom. Wake up ffs.

FT 1-3.

That last attack was the first time Simpson managed to get the ball and do something with it. On another day, McKirdys header would have gone in.

Well at least it should mean that Iandolo gets his place back for the next game which means we should play well - silver linings s and all that..

There are 2 worse teams at home than us? I’m surprised.

Bollocks to going to another home game soon, think I might try Newport away next.

Well that was a laugh a minute. Bradford controlled the tempoand the game throughout. Although nothing special they are well drilled and full of running, like Port Vale. Most of the Town players should of stayed on their knees, they would of been just effective.
If theirs no monkey on our backs? My pricks a bloater.

Well, Head Coach can take that one on the chin and own it I'm afraid.  Today's game is what gives me the niggling feeling Garner will eventually end-up being a Senior level coach higher up the food chain but not a Manager.  I'm not writing him off with us this season by any stretch, but I think he doesn't have that ruthless edge to abandon principles when needed and is more inclined to focus on the long term coaching than the short term issues.  Simpson being a good example - poor the last couple of games, needs dropping if you have a replacement, but we don't because he would rather coach a youngster who is also not ready than have a stop gap for a few months.

KKH can take the MotM for at least offering something.  Nobody else deserves any mentions.

Players need to go get pissed and forget that one.  Head Coach needs to spend a few days in the dog house.

Bad day at the office?

1) We were poor today.
2) The ref's still a cunt.

im not sure what the rules or procedures are for a coach to make position changes but i have now watched a handful of games and other than being a large body, i have not seen much from simpson as a striker....i played striker and standing and waiting BEHIND a defender is not going to get it done...he doesnt seem to anticipate or create opportunities....McKirdy is hot and cold but he does try to create opportunities....

someone mentioned there isnt anyone on the bench really to replace simpson??? fine put a midfielder in then as a striker...hell williams seems to have a balls out attitude...i would rather see that as a striker than one that just stands and watches most of the time....

the loss is not on Simpson, but goals need to be scored and that is his job....not doing his job in my opinion.....

Need to go back to basics at home, trying to squeeze too many luxury players into the XI that just get in each other’s way. Get Grant in to offer some stability in midfield and help Reed and give us more chance of winning second balls and players like Payne a defined role.

Spot on - welcome back

Yup

Well it could be one if ColU win their game in hand.

Oldham.

73% possession,   We need to wake up.
Home attendances are going to start to drop. 

After 7 games of varying degrees of shitness, I’m amazed they haven’t already.

Fair play to the fans.

Just got my revenge on sweaty. Dropped my guts  :)

Garner:
- The goals in first half were the reason
- Started well
- Gave away very poor first and second goals
- First goal knocked us. Don't know why as we are normally resilient
- Bradford sat deep and played on the counter. Giving them a 2 goal lead played into their hands
- Third was very avoidable
- If we'd scored to make it 1-2 then it might have been different#
- Cant concede goals like that
- Williams and Gladwin: Didnt expect them to be a back 5. Thought it would give us more threat at home
- Got into final third a number of times but couldn't open them up
- Goals: It wasnt them on top, it was because we didn't deal with it properly
- We need to compete alot better than that
- Changed shape at 1/2 time. Wanted more threat out wide
- Second half performance better.
- Pinned them in better and sustained attacks
- Surprised at reaction of Williams sub. He's been stop start because of his start to the season. Thought he was tiring. Thought Gilbert would offer a bit more at that time
- Wont change the way that he plays or the style. We just need to play this way better
- Some times you have to have patience, but you cant be careless and give goals away
- No difference between home and away. Last 2 home performances were good. Today's wasn't
- Need to keep working and improve.

Not exactly owning the defeat is he, can’t say I agree with much of his assessment but hey Ho.

Are we the biggest sufferers of "ex player syndrome" or does it just feel that way?

Don't agree with Garner at all. We were poor. 72% possession and nothing to show for it is the problem. Soft goals against didn't help but if we hadn't conceded those first two we still wouldn't have won that game. That's the problem, we need to be more attacking at home. Williams was showing some effort, that was the problem for most when  he got taken off.

Worst performance of the season so far for me, didn't create anything for note.

Sent from my XQ-AD51

I missed the attendance figure? How many?

Garner is annoying we slightly with the same rhetoric no difference between home and away.

There is a glaringly obvious difference and that is usually the visiting away team will set up different to the way they would play at home. we can’t just keep saying we will play our own style if it doesn’t work.

has Simpson ever had a good game at home? He is isolated. Away from home completely different.

I know we don’t have many options in terms of strikers but we have to find a new way to get this team playing at home.

Garner was right in the game was lot by the goals in the first half. No way were we ever going to get back. We didn’t look like scoring before they scored

9400 I think it was.

First game in nearly 2 years for me.

That was shit

Looked disorganized when Williams went off, that's another problem for Garners to solve.

The first half was very poor after they scored. Though we didn't create much before, we looked nearly dangerous if that makes sense.

Second half from what I watched was a lot better in tempo, but Bradford still held reasonably comfortably .

We've been brilliant away. Just can't seem to adjust at home.

I thought baudry did ok today. Crichlow I hope it's nothing serious

yeah, just over 9000 town. 400 odd bradford

oh, and having read the Garner comments , I thought Williams was just coming into it when he went off

that said, it's difficult to guage on ifollow. do the sports bras give real time info?

For all the positivity, we drain it in when we play at home. No need to over do it though. We’re so obviously missing key ingredients (left side, another striker, and another option at left back to compete with Iandolo) and Chorley will be able to see that. 

Got done tactically in the first half. Everyone else has tried to press us but Bradford sat off with the back 5 and hit us on the counter with big gaps between midfield and defence (really could have done with Grant).

With their back 5, we had completely the wrong full backs. At least Garner got KKH on at half time but it was too late.

Tyreece is a good talent but my god we need another number 9 in January. Simpson might prove more effective coming on for the last 20 knowing he doesn't have to conserve his energy for the whole game.

The season is going to go 1 of 2 ways.

Our home form will pick up and we’ll make the autos.

Our away form will taper off and we’ll slide down to mid table mediocrity.

Somebody said it earlier. Garner is trying to accommodate too many ‘luxury’ players who if they aren’t on their game they contribute very little.

It’s calling out for Grant and Reed to play together.

Grant is done

We new at the start of season we needed Striker and that's more obvious now .Simson cannot win the ball in the  air or hold the ball up to bring others into play which is needed against a packed defence.

Do you mean Garner is done with Grant or that Grant no longer has ‘it’.

I said to Jutty, we looked dangerous in our own half.

So out of interest what formation are you playing to fit those two in, who are you droping from todays team and is that just for home games.

At home i think we need two solid players up front playing as a pair. Mckirdy is just too hit and miss.

Garner done with Grant.
Needed his old head today, if anything would have allowed Reed to move up a little.

Still now can’t work out what formation that was today, felt too similar players with Simpson and McKirdy isolated, the through balls were non existent and 73% possession summed up by keeping the ball on the half way line.

I don't think going with a back four is a problem at home, when we come up against teams who want to sit deep and play narrow.  The issue is getting width up front.

For whatever reason, be it player suitedness or tactical choice, we can't seem to get any width from Payne, Gilbert, McKirdy or Williams, regardless of combination.  In fact, Gladwin's little drifts out right are more dangerous than the other four put together when it comes to attacking with width.

If they cannot be made to play wide and we cannot get the fullbacks far enough forward in a four, then it limits us to the 3 central defenders and wing backs, so be it.

Today we caught with a flat back four and nobody wide in front of them.  Bradford could soak up everything we put together because they didn't need to move around a lot.

I think the best way of going with a four at the back would indeed be Grant sitting with Reed to give extra cover, then KKH & Iandolo as your full backs, accepting the defence would be more vulnerable to width.  Today it would have made no difference as they didn't put anyone into those positions when attacking us.  In a back 3/5 then you probably have to choose between Iandolo and KKH, especially if using Payne/Gladwin/Williams in midfield.

Take the Ardiles days, back four but Bodin and Kerslake bombing on wide with McLaren covering the middle.

Wollacot
                  Odimayo    Conroy    Cichlow
Kesler-Hayden                                            Hunt
                             Grant   Reed
                Payne                        Gladwin
                               Simpson

You can change certain individual players for others - Hunt/Iandolo, Gladwin/Williams, even Simpson/JML or Payne/McKirdy

Go with 4231 with KKH and Iandolo as the wide players in the three.
We automatically get width further up the pitch.

Wollacot

Odimayo
Conroy
Crichlow
Hunt

Reed
Grant

KKH
anyone of Payne, Gladwin, Williams, McKirdy, Parsons
Iandolo or JML or maybe even any of the above^

Simpson

Exactly - lots of sides play with two that can bomb on. The art is the one does it at a time, or that if both do, you have someone to drop in and cover. We’re unbalanced. Reed is the only one of our splurge of midfielders with undefined roles with any defensive instinct. Look at all of our successful sides and they have balance. This feels like a novelty team at times - bags of skill on paper, but unable to score at home….

Something Garner said made me think how could he have changed things quickly, assuming subbing in the first 10 minutes is not likely.  He mentioned he was surprised they went with the back 5, and it was clear very quickly that they would sit deep and squeeze the pitch.

Seeing that, what could Garner do with the existing personnel rather than just let it play out, as he did for the entire half without making any noticeable changes?

It may not have worked, but in the first 5-10 mins we could have moved Hunt to right wing back and asked Payne to drop into the left wing back role.  He may not be much kop at defending there, but their right wing back was not interested in crossing the half way line anyway.  That would have moved Hunt to a side of the pitch he actually manages to get forward from (and removed Odimayo who has shown he is not comfortable enough in that role when attacking) and added some width on the left at the same time.  It would also have had the height matched up directly against their forwards.  Williams and Gladwin could have sat either side of Reed but with less pressure to get wide all the time.

Change a system before half time? Don’t be ridiculous!

I think it was obvious after 5 minutes there was a problem - not the issue defending, but they were creating a sort of funnel that we were drifting into every time and our fullbacks had nobody to defend.

Odimayo often had 30 or 40 yards to move into before reaching half way, stopping, and playing it inside.

It’s the fear of losing possession that is the driving force. That is really inhibiting our pace going forward.

I think Simpson needs to be a bench player.  Make him really want to get in and perform.  He is young can’t just give him a spot because he is on loan.  Make him prove something.  His size doesn’t matter if he won’t go up and get the ball in athe air anyway

There is that but it’s also our balance in midfield. I’ve only watched a small amount of footage but every week the line up gets announced and every week it looks the same to me.

Keeper obviously (1) Three centre backs (4) two wing backs (6)Our only striker up front (7) - ok.

Then a random combination of (4) midfielders chucked in the middle of the park with no set position or roles. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes they just seem to get in each other’s way, sometime we have too many on the middle and not enough support for Simpson and sometimes we don’t have enough help for the defence. Reed is the more cautious of the midfielders but everyone else just seems to have a free role (imo) and I just don’t think it works.

That's because Simpson's ability to hold it up or bully a centre half is next to nil. Nobody seems confident to knock into him unless it's a safe psss

Seen every game game apart from the non vegan Rovers when we looked decent from afar.
By far our worst performance, amateurish.

We've been so good with a back 5 and BG changed it!

Why play a diamond in the middle with 2 defensive players at full back? - it's asking for trouble
Why leave on 2 ineffective forwards and take williams off?

Clueless!

I've really enjoyed the last few games, but today was inept and foreseable.
It wasn't working after 20 mins so do something, why wait until we are already fucked!

Happy with where we are but OMG there was no excitement today, only a waste of 2 hours.  There was simply no fight after they scored.

Nice, thanks.

Suppin in Bridport this evening. Good evening to all.

Today was a poor performance.
I thought the selection and initial system was wrong - we should have retained the  approach of 3CBs and kept Iandolo  at LWB - the players have looked more comfortable like that than in a back 4 (which also didn’t work v Port Vale). Give. Bradford’s defensive approach KKH would have given us more attacking threat on the right than Hunt.
The goals conceded were poor - long throw not dealt with and their player got in ahead of Baudry for the first,  Hunt and Woolacott should between them have stopped the second and Odimayo should have headed into touch before the 3rd.
With 73% possession for us their keeper made only 3 saves if my memory is accurate- one in the first half from a free kick by Reed, in the second a shot parried, and the McKirdy header late on.  Too many poor performances today. 
Also the referee was shocking too, but I seem to say that most weeks.

Our support was poor. Flat atmosphere. Little encouragement. Booing at half time. Barely any singing. Waiting for something to happen, rather than actively willing it to.

It's crazy how quickly expectations have changed. 2 weeks before the start of the season, if you said to me we'd be where we are I'd have laughed at you. I guess now people have seen how good we can be and the quality of the squad that's been put together, people have forgotten where we were at. Saying that, most people can only get to / afford home games and we are serving up some absolute dross at home. 

The atmosphere and general mood would be a lot better if home and away form was reversed

I think it’s fair enough that people have revised their expectations of what we can achieve now we are almost three months into the season and a fair amount of football has been played.

For all the drivel served up at home, we’ve looked superb away and quite rightly in my view, pre season expectations of ‘let’s just stay up’ have been re-visited.

Our mess of a summer doesn’t excuse starting a centre half at right back yesterday and flooding the centre of midfield leaving us with no width. Not that you are suggesting this, Joe, but I’ve read many opinions elsewhere along these lines.

Rob called the match/tactics spot on in his observations earlier in the thread. A bad day at the office but I’ve seen enough to suggest that some astute business in January will see us have an interesting season.

true that.

if all you've seen are home games you're bound to be on a bit of a  downer

Agreed all round. I think re-visiting expectations isn't harmful as our recruitment was so strong. If we can bring in a striker in January I think we have every chance.

Comment on bold spot on. We just have to hope that Garner learns.

Maybe the old adage of don't change a winning team should also apply to a winning formation.
Seems easier to change from a 5 to a 4 than the other way, so we ended up with Payne at LWB and Hunt as a CB in the second half.
Too late by then.
In a tight league it's first goal wins more often than not.

Is it up the players to take some responsibility when they are faced with a game plan that was not expected or should the direction be coming from the sidelines.
A bit of both probably.
The timid approach of Odimayo with acres of space in front of him, a case in point & very frustrating, although to be fair he was more positive after the injury drinks break in the first half, so someone must have had a word.

Only real moment of quality was in added time with the linkup between Simpson and Payne and cross to McKirdy.
That being the only decent cross all game.

Some strike by Robinson though and worthy of a grudging ripple of appreciation in the DRS.

Don't like to celebrate a Town goal half heartedly and remaining seated knowing that the game is up.

Hopefully the slow cooked tikka masala that's about to go in the pot will be more enjoyable than the performance yesterday.

Yes this is a chicken  and egg argument. One that always irritates me. We have a team that can turn it on in front of 2000 fans with no expectations, however, put them in front of 9000 fans willing them to do good and they are developing severe stage fright.
Your argument would hold water if it was two or three home games into the season but the football is getting slowly worse.
I'm not a great fan of tippy tappy and it doesn't get the blood racing through your veins when done successfully, let alone what we are served.
If you'd like to see the County Ground rocking, go to youtube and type, Swindon v West Ham United 1968. You can feel the atmos and you've only to go back to Di Canio He created more atmosphere just leaving the pitch at the end of the game than the current squad can in 90 minutes.

Something that irritated me yesterday was a section of the town end who started chanting loyal supporters as quite a few of us left with 10 mins to go. The same loyal supporters who made little effort to lift the team for 90 minutes?

What was so frustrating was that, before this season, Odimayo had games where, given space, he used his pace and stature to go past opponents, taking them out of the game and thereby threatening danger.

Without suggesting the team all go McKirdy, I felt there were real opportunities for the Odimayo "surge" yesterday, especially as you suggest in the first half.

You can set up for the possibility of losing the ball.

Yestrday's keepball was especially impotent and brutally shown up when Bradford opened the scoring without having put together more than two passes at any stage in the previous 15 mins.  No wonder heads dropped.  

Yesterday was on Garner.

Team not set up correct from the off.

We are crying out for Grant for a bit of physicality in these home games where the opposition bully and sit very deep.

It was obvious from the first 10 mins Bradford changed formation - why did it take him 40 minutes to even try to change anything.By then we were 2-0 down.

Yes happy with where we are overall but these awful home results do matter. Every side who comes here is going to set up the same way and many will walk away with points.

Garner seems indifferent to adapting to counter this- if we cannot break teams down at home gates will drop I’m afraid.

No one expects to win every home game- but 7 in we have won once and this is terrible no matter how you dress it up

And I would say this is the main criticism I have of our play. There's not enough risk taking in the final third / middle to final third progression. Sometimes it's all a bit too safe and with that comes slowness and teams being able to set up against it with 11 men behind the ball. Bit more risk taking and moving the ball quicker and we'll be fine.

I am not as clued upon the minutiae of the players, their positions, strengths, weaknesses and tactics as some on this thread so to no matter how anyone dissects yesterday’s game and all the other home games for that matter, to me I see so far that we have played seven at home and SIX teams have come away with either a SHARE or ALL the points. Clearly so far our away form is up there with any team in the four divisions and is automatic promotional form, our home form is relegation form. What to do? Well that is down obviously to BG & BC to sort out and as happens a myriad of opinions are expressed as to what we could, should and ought to do.

BG, I’m sorry matey you cannot polish a turd regarding what we have have achieved at home so far and it is up to you, yes you to sort it out. Personnel wise we cannot do anything till January but as has been mentioned more than once money is the issue and outside a stonking cup run we have to rely on home income, so with all the best will in the world you’d better sort out out home form ASAP or money through the turnstiles is going to drop which will hinder any spend the club can hope to do in January.

Of course there is a school of thought that suggests in spite of the open communications the advisory board have with us that getting to January still in touch with the leader board is the aim and we will invest in the playing staff. I hope so because anyone can see we are player wise a few short of spanking every team in this division, so doable.

Furthermore on the money front. There has to be money coming in somewhere because of the applaudable push by the club to get the ground sale done before Christmas. Now we know the trust intend to put up 50% so is Clem fronting the other 50% or are we going to borrow that via a commercial mortgage? Which then leads onto if Clem fronts the other 50% are we likely to borrow some money against that with to refurb or invest in the squad either in January or wait till May whatever league we find ourselves in?

Sorry it’s a long one but I’m on a roll after a bike ride this morning which hasn’t killed me and made me feel really good about my situation. Have a great day everyone, we live to do battle away at Oldham, who are hopefully thinking, shit, Swindon at home next week…

Garner seems to think our ‘style’ will win out no matter the opposition’s tactics. He has perfected the style but has very little tactical awareness of how to set up or change tactics dependent on the opposition.

He countenances risk taking by defenders near our box in a bid to retain possession but has obviously told those higher up the pitch to take no risks which results in the anal retention without penetration.

It’s bizarre.

To much Crab football yesterday and as the wife says, not enough penetration!

My main concern is he’s saying he won’t change no matter what. We must be the only team in the country that doesn’t play a defensive midfielder so either Garner is a footballing genius or slightly naive.

I don’t see putting in a defensive midfielder with Grant the obvious choice as being a negative move, it would give that extra solidity that might allow our creative players to take a few more risks. At the moment the players must know that if they lose the ball there’s a danger of the opposition immediately being right on our back line as they have no protection. A few times yesterday Reed lost the ball going forwards and there was a massive chasm where our midfield should be allowing Bradford to get into dangerous positions. My concern at the start and remains somewhat that his way of playing has been developed in youth football where teams play similar styles and doesn’t allow for the variety of styles and physical nature at this level.  Winter on churned up pitches will the true acid test.

We have no tactics. We have a style. That will not change - come what may.

We really battled through the second half at Sutton and ended up looking the more dangerous.  However a good few were calling for Grant at half time which, in the happy event, never got a further mention on the night.

The General was not quite as effective last season as the previous one and I have little idea how he might be now with his advancing years and world cup travel.  Garner will do, tbf.  Nevertheless, there is undoubtedly a defensive midfield vacant role available, imo, in which I would like to see him tried out again soon.  Home and away.

What's the difference between tactics and a style?

Yesterday’s game.

And most of the other home games.

Tactics change - or should do. Our style does not.

Putting KKH on, moving Payne to LWB and pushing wing backs further forward was a tactical change, so there are tactics?

The one thing I'm sure we can all agree on is that it should have changed much sooner (ie 20 minutes in). Within 10 minutes the way the game was going was quite obvious - I guess it wouldn't have been an issue if we went 1-0 up but as soon as we went 1-0 down it played right into their hands to put 11 men behind the ball and hit us on the counter.

I think it is clear to most that KKH should have started that game and I agree he should have changed it early when it obviously wasn't working.  Sticking in Grant alongside Reed to give a layer of protection for the back four and to mix it up a bit with the dark arts would have been my change, but I think we all know that Grant doesn't seem to be Garners cup of tea.

He’d much prefer another midget midfielder.

It doesn't have to be Grant, East has looked thoroughly competent when he's deputised for Reed. Would like to see them play together.

Agreed, I just think that Saturday we needed that nasty niggly midfielder - East might be capable of that, we just haven't been given the opportunity to see it yet.

Yeah I'd prefer it to be Grant, but mainly based on the fact I haven't seen much of East. I thought he did well when he came on against Sutton though.

We are too bloody predictable!  A side that comes to the CG with a mindset of a high press and being a bit physical will always beat us it seems

The physical bit is a laugh because every time we challenge a big player in a tackle we get penalised or carded.

Exactly- this is spot on. Until we can adapt then we won’t pick up many points at home sadly

I went for the first time in 2 years, was great to be there, actually being there aside...

What frustrated me most was only once did we try to find one of McKirdy's many, many runs and that was well overhit by Gladwin.  I get that often they're dummy runs but if you never try to find one then the opposition know they need not track him as there is no jeopardy.

It was obvious having two defensive FBs wasn't doing it for us, no attacking output from them at all, odd decision at home.

Pogba's red card yesterday looked nowhere near as bad as the one on KKH down by their fans from the TE, he was well out of control of that challenge and looked a red to me, obviously the ref thought otherwise.  Should have been at least 2 yellows for them by the time their GK was booked for time wasting.

Brilliant penalty from Payne for our consolation.

Looking forward to Oldham where we'll likely do much better.

Wd love to see Granty back - he's such a pro when it comes to tackling and earning free kicks whenever challenged.

The quality of our play notwithstanding, Saturday was yet another example of the high quality officiating that we are blessed with at The County Ground........

Every season I think it can't possibly get worse, and then, bang, it does indeed get worse.

Honestly can't remember a game I've watched this season where I've walked away and thought "the ref was good today."

Yep ever since the first game at Scunthorpe they have been universally awful, missing simple and what appears to be blatantly obvious decisions, and not giving us free kicks when it was an obvious foul.

I do wonder if some teams are deliberatly targetted for not being given free kicks because of a track record of going to ground too easily in a challenge?

I do think some of our players go to ground way too easily, Payne, KKH and JML are 3 off the top of my head where I have thought, no need to go to ground so eagerly, maybe refs are aware of that and tar our whole team with the same brush?

I recently heard a very credible explanation for the deterioration in reffing standards - I think it may even have been by Ben Garner - saying that the need for additional VAR officials at the top end of the game has pulled more of them out of the EFL, so more non-league refs have had to be promoted in a hurry. Clearly beyond their level of competence in some cases.

I heard a valid point at the weekend, can't remember where (might have been in the commentary) that the introduction of VAR has affected the standard of refereeing in the lower leagues..  Because they need more officials now for every Prem match, all refs have automatically been promoted up to fill the gap, so we are seeing referees that would normally be reffing in NL fastracked to League football, possibly before they are ready.

Makes sense..

EDIT: Great minds RF :D

Has anyone ever seen Red Frog and me in the same room at the same time...

Could be. The thing that's got me the most about the refs is the indecisiveness. So many times they deliberate / change their mind on a decision which then turns out to be the wrong decision? It's bizarre.

Havent read back.

Didnt go and 4D took my ST and jinxed it.

Why are we so fucking crap at home??

Frustrating....

It was actually Ross Embleton on the BBC pre game on Saturday. Who I thought spoke really well and very intelligently, far superior to Dave "the jinxing moaner" Hockaday.

Ah yes, he gave much better insights, like the one above. To think that anyone thought for a moment that Hockaday was fit to manage Leeds.  ::)

That was it, I knew I heard it somewhere over the weekend, that just cleared a brain worm up for me :D

I wouldnt mind him back on comms, very insightful and obviously is not a fan of Lee Power!

Its not like he even speaks intelligently about football, just criticisms constantly of everyone and everything.

Or even the same country...  :french:

I was actually back in the Benighted Kingdom the weekend before last for the first time in two years, but wisely gave the footy a miss. The Saturday night carnage in central London hasn't improved. One boyfriend had thoughtfully brought a binbag on the tube for his girl to be copiously sick in. Of course, that didn't protect the seats on the train, since it became evident when she staggered out that she'd also pissed herself. Grim.  :no:

Sounds like it’s not just us suffering from poor home form for very similar reasons. This from a Wigan fan after their latest home defeat yesterday.

‘Honeymoon period properly over now for us, three home losses already and all of them deserved. Injuries starting to rack up (plus a suspension) and any side that comes to the DW organised, hardworking and happy to sit back for large periods are causing us serious problems. Away from home, teams have to come at you and we take advantage of all the extra space with our quality attacking midfield. Can't do that at home.’

Our home record is poor, no amount of excuses etc cuts it. 1 win in 7 is terrible, teams used to worry about coming to the CG.

10 wins at home from the last 31 games played at the County Ground since March 2020.

Still, it's an improvement on last season  :D

If the home form continues as 1 win from every 7 then we are in line for just 3 wins at home this season, last season we won 8 games at home despite everything!

Bring back Sheridan for home games and we might have a shot at the autos.

I didn't realise it was that bad  :suicide:

I haven’t see us lose at home in 11 years!!

Please buy a ticket for the next home game, thank you :)

I’ve been this season, thank you very much.

Fuck sake, some of our 'fans' need to fucking grow up a bit....

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2022/january/club-statement-police-arrests2/

Did you not see the video? They looked about 12/13. So yeah, they quite literally have some growing up to do.

All very cringe.

But how buzzing the police seem to be is just as cringe. Chill out James. It was some early teenage kids running after a moving bus giving them the wanker sign and the video was posted on twitter for your convenience. You didn't just take down Cass Pennant and the ICF before an 80s showdown with the Chelsea Headhunters.

That was the fans bus wasn't it?

I think there is a bit of confusion between the 3 or 4 kids running after a Bradford supporters bus and a separate incident involving fans attacking their team bus. The website statement suggests a total of 14 arrests which to me intimates there is another incident that hasn't been captured anywhere.

Of course I could be totally wrong.

Yeah that is right