Thetownend.com

Is it on?  We're heading south on Tuesday.  First home game for nearly two years, hopefully.  Northern away games are great, but we need this.  Keeping it crossed.

So far, yes.

Even if both squads are ok  Johnson is reviewing the latest covid data today.

keep everything crossed

Fingers crossed.
Believe training was yesterday thus no news is good news.
Hope Boris can deliver some positive news.

No new restrictions before new year so won’t be behind closed doors or anything like that… Just need both squads to have enough available players now

Really hope the game goes ahead. Some clubs seem to be manipulating Covid cases to get games called off as they fancy a break/have injuries as alluded to in the AFC Wimbledon club statement yesterday. Prem  managers seem to be using the epidemic as a chance to push their personal agenda about general Christmas fixture congestion (Klopp today). Tuchel moaning about fixtures after Chelski had just won 3-1 the other night was embarrassing.

I imagine we need a blow out or 2 before Man City - otherwise it could be really embarrassing.

Press conference is on the adver

Players training - 16 players and 7 staff had covid

Game on tomorrow as it stands

Are people leaving it last minute to get tickets? I know I am.

Football? What is this thing called football that you talk about? Do we still have a team?

Having spent the holiday period watching the Broncos and England capitulate I'm hoping tonight won't be an unwelcome hattrick! However, I fear that 'Swindon Town nil' might feature in the result tonight.

GARNER ON JANUARY

Covid will change things. We've had conversations with one or two players weeks ago, but that may change now. Town will be looking to bring a goalkeeper in as well as three or four outfield players.

That’s a good advertisement that being fit and healthy is the best defence against Covid. It’s ripped through most football teams but we’ve not heard of anyone being seriously ill.

Well you're 100% wrong on that score!

(Game's tomorrow)

I think it's more age related. though obesity clearly a negative factor.

after that it's luck. Example, work colleague son is in basic training fit as a butchers dog.

Wiped out for 3 weeks.[/quote]

I reckon clubs will start offering new contracts based partly on vaccination status in the near future as this clearly isn’t going away so some of them might be forced into it from an economic imperative

Now that makes a change!  :D

Some managers have alluded that they will only sign players that have had their vaccine's, could be an interesting transfer window

At the moment, I think we are the only game in L2 still going ahead.

Don't tempt fate !!!.

Rochdale v Port Vale and Barrow v Oldham are still currently still on also.

Gives us a chance to sneak back up the table,  assuming we win,  now I'm the one tempting fate.

Stevoes are 2nd bottom with just 4 wins already this season.

They were difficult to beat in the away game where we relied on a last minute penalty from Payne to grab a draw despite having nearly 70% of the possession and 16 shots at goal.

We have only won 1 of our last 5 games, Stevenage are on a run of no wins in the last 6 games which sent them into the bottom 2.

Got draw written all over it, or them sneaking a late winner.

Have some festive optimism chap? 2-0 us.

I think most of the slightly older Town fans will never forget the debacle under Muckmahon in 98 when they turned us over at home in really windy conditions which Digby couldnt get to grips with all game when we were in the Championship and them in the Conference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKkogX_lqU8&t=7s

Would love to be optimistic but whenever I am it comes back to kick me in the butt!

We will win this game, because we are stuck at home & can’t go.

Probably a shitty, nervy 1-0 win, but nonetheless a win

Vale game is off

I see it has now been called off but it wasn't on the Rochdale or PV OS's until after I posted that, the other game is still on currently.

Our away form has tailed off. Cue an upturn in home fortunes. 3-0 Town

I see Garner says we are without 4 players for the game tomorrow, Baudrey is still out injured, Conroy is  suspended and 2 unamed other players.

Guessing Jack Payne, who’s off is one of them. Maybe JoJo - when does he leave for Africa?

I think you are reading far too much into that   He says it's 2 who are still testing positive.

I don’t think Jack Payne will leave in January.

I agree, he can leave for free end of season anyway. Cant see him going until then to be honest

I don't think Payne will go anywhere. If he was going to, he would have done last summer. He has openly said he is fed up of moving from club to club.

Looks like we'll finally get our one and only festive game,  hopefully Santa will be with us,  2-0 to the Town would be acceptable (or any other score that gives us the three points !!).

A repeat of that last evening game when we were poor and snatched it late on. that'll do...

Exactly.

Personally I can't see Payne wanting to leave when hes in pretty much the form of his life to go to another club and settle down and then maybe be a bit part player after signing before he can establish himself at the new club.

I have a feeling Grant and Baudry will leave in January and possibly Lyden too with a couple of youngsters going on loan.

As for the game.

Swindon to suffer a single goal defeat in front of 7,461 fans with 65 Stevoes there.

I agree with you regarding AG, though I suspect Frenchie may go either way at the end of the season, with his injury record being an issue for a Jan move. Lydon maybe depending on Jan targets. Payne not until EOS as he may be looking to see if we get promo in which case be better staying here if we go up for sure.

Tonight it’s a must win game for a number of reasons. Need to get back to winning ways and of course improve our home form. To close the gap on FGR, we may not catch them but it has to be a target to aim for.

Home win 3-1 9,050 fans 135 from St. Evenage.

I just feel that with Frenchies injury issues and his wanting to get into his off pitch business then it would be better all round if he had his contract terminated and he retires.

I can’t really see how supplementing a 19 year old striker, Simpson, with another 18 year old, Barry, is going to enhance our prospects.

It seems Garner prioritises ‘aesthetics’ over actual points.

Yeah i hope we stay up ::)

What is this business? I've never heard or read about any other ventures and his linkedin says little?

We’ll stay up - just get bored shitless in the process.

I don't know what his business actually is just that he is putting more time into that lately since his injury issues have haunted him a lot.

I also have heard that Sheridactyl made him question his career last season and the pressures involved.

You know you have the option not to watch?

Fair comment, unless he still sees a bit more time on the turf.

Bit of a twatty reply. It’s my club, come what may. I don’t have to like or agree with the style.

Audrey's allowed his opinion, just like everyone else.

It is an option I understand that Audrey regularly applies!

Well, I’ve seen some right old shite in the 50 odd years watching STFC. I’m sure I can survive the Garner era as well.

We do play some good stuff, but sometimes (quite often) it's like we are going through the motions.

This is the part I know many fans struggle with under the new management, when we can all see what they are capable of at times by playing some great football.

It's league 2 football. DiCanio era the football was shit it was just that we had a fucking lunatic on the sidelines making it better

There’s nothing wrong, per se. It’s just way too slow. Painfully so at times. As a fan I want something to get me off my feet now and again. I just hope he’s not wasting the excellent feelgood factor surrounding the club.

that and pissing the league

You're the moany old cunt complaining about literally nothing. We haven't had a game for weeks, best make up something to complain about eh.

Who's denying him his opinion?

I’m complaining, if that’s even the right word, that I don’t like Garner style. If you do, fair fucks.

And don’t come back with that old bollocks about almost not having a club 6 months ago and we should be grateful to accept any old shite.

And don’t call me a cunt again.

my opinion, when it's good it's very good, but when it's bad it is awful.

but you can't argue with the results

Absolutely.

Until the last few games, lets hope we have a reaction tonight and get back to playing better and winning.

on the whole i like our style of play, that said there have been times where weve been crying out for a 'plan b' & to mix it up a bit. the fact everyone but BG sees it or that hes too stubborn to change it is a slight worry. win tonight and were in a great place... a few additions in January and we should be good enough for top 3.

i would have bitten your hand off for that in the summer for sure.

Thats something pretty much we can all agree 100% on.

A large part of me thinks that there should always be a plan B to your plan A, home or away. That said I think if we could have gotten the quality players needed to implement plan A even 90% of the time home AND away we’d have nothing to dare I say, moan about based on what we’ve seen so far this season. On another level there is from me a grudging admiration for the way BG doggedly sticks to his plan A pretty much 100% of the time even when it is blindingly obvious that it is not quite working. I see it that it is his way or the highway and you play for STFC on the understanding this is the way it’s going to be, which is fine when it works but by fuck excruciatingly painful when it doesn’t. Lastly, let’s hope that the numbers coming in or hopefully coming in will be fully on message with BG’s ‘way’ and should slot straight into what he’s trying to do.

Do we need a covid pass tonight?

Yes a Covid pass will be required or proof of a negative test.

Ta, just downloaded my pass

It's not "bollocks" that we might not have had a club 6 months ago, it's FACT.
You are entitled to be unhappy with the manager or the style of play of course

CUNT.

Billy Big Bollocks

I'm going for a 1-0 home win in front of 9,190 inc 140 from Stevenage

If he has got big bollocks and an appendage to match I’d say he wins hands down 😁

Wonder how many of our ex players at Stevenage will be playing tonight from Jake Reeves, Scott Cuthbert, Luke Norris and Bradley Barry.

Many Town fans wanted Tisdale to be our manager and he hasn't "yet" won a game in charge with 3 defeats and 2 draws in his first 5 games, scoring just 2 goals and conceding 5 including a cup defeat at non league Yeovil.

He has highlighted goalkeeper as a position that needs improving after agreeing to sign ex Exeter keeper Christy Pym on loan from 2nd January already from Peterborough.

There is no doubt they will be very hard to beat as he likes to pack defences and not always known for his passing style theyw ill try and bully us and have a very very experienced squad of players.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FHy8csXXIAAn6E0?format=jpg&name=medium)

SUBS | Ward, Lyden, Simpson, Williams, Dabre, Minturn, Grant

I’m looking forward to tonight’s game. I think Stevenage will try and keep it tight. Hopefully we manage to score first as that should then open the game up.

Simpson dropped for the first time in the league? Interesting. Do Stevenage have especially big slow defenders for JML to run at?

Don't want to give too much away to the watching Man City scouts!

Would imagine a lot of players are at different fitness levels & recovery curves at the moment so probably a factor.

Let's hope it's fitness related and not being called back by Ipswich

At first glance that seems a very weird line up - unbalanced to say the least. No Critchlow, so going with 2 CbS. Well, 1 really as Hunt is a square peg - albeit a decent one.

Well no one can say he hasn’t tried to change things at home.

I still think this could be 3 at the back.

Iandolo, Odimayo & Hunt

Payne and KKH wingback.

Reed and East sitting.

Gladwin, JML and Mckirdy the *attacking* trio.

Jesus was that 23 years ago (didn't go to the STFC v stevenage game but did go to the NUFC v Stevenage game in the next round.

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Time most certainly flies!

Payne as a wingback? Christ! It’s got to be, as far as possible, Iandolo and KKH plus Hunt and Odimayo as a back 4.

Reed and East protecting.

McKirdy, Gladwin and Payne behind JML.

I’d like JML to come good. On the few occasions I’ve watched him he’s got most everything apart from an ability to actually score.

I agree 100%

Reeves, Cuthbert and Norris all start against us tonight.

Cuthbert?

I also see that in goal for them is one of the notorious "Leicester City Sex Tape" racist scandal players from Thailand a few years back Adam Smith.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leicester-city-sack-players-who-5901087

I’d hazard a guess that Garner thinks it’s an easier gig tonight for JML and saving Simpson for Cobblers on Saturday. We don’t know whose fitness levels are up to it.

Who is that co commentating?

Ross Embleton

Aah,yes.Ta

Yeah if JML could begin to hit the target to match his build up play he will be a good player, he could well play as a false nine tonight or McKirdy in a similar role.

We will miss Simpsons guts for certain and his height at set peices even if he doesnt connect to many high balls.

Cuthbert has the pace of an arthritic elephant and the turning circle of the QE2 so play the ball to JML's feet and he could have a field day against him. All we have to do is mark Cuthbert closely at set peices.

I would think that Odimayo will mark Slow Norris too and keep him in his back pocket.

Doesn't look close to 9000 to me but who knows how many are still outside waiting to show covid passes.

Fingers crossed!
Stewards only expecting low 7000ish plus a scattering from Stevenage

The stands look very empty at the moment.

Frankly if Garner has spent the last fortnight explaining to Gladwin that he can turn towards their goal and pass forwards and encouraging the players to talk to one another we will outdo the Barrow performance

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Does look to be filling up at bit even people sat in the very end of the Arkells Trollope stand. Just maybe

TBF mate you picked THE worst Town performance of the season to witness!

Radio Wilts says stewards told to expect c7k - bit disappointing.

It has filled up more in the last 5 mins, I did a quick count of the Stevenage fans....23 at the moment.

ITV 3 just advertised the Town game vs Man City....Its a premonition I tells ya! #Audreymode

The right winger Elliott List the number 7 is the player we need to keep a close eye on, hes scored 11 goals from the wing so far this season.

Oh I know, looking back I think its me, despite getting to a fair few nw games think last time I saw a win was Morecambe in the PdC season.😔

The frustrating thing with Gladwin was the space he managed to find and the bugger all positive he did with it!

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The previous one was arguably worse, though against better opposition. You have to hope the break has come at a good time for us, but our first 11 actually looks weaker on paper.  :(

1st half vs Orient I thought we looked quite good, the same cannot be said about either half at Barrow!

They were trailing it on itv4 during the racing today, along with the erectile disfunction adverts, so not sure what that suggests 🤣

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Great chance for Stevenage but nobody gets to the cross.

I think you need a "stiff drink!"

Hunt with an awful pass to Mayo then gives away a free kick near the corner of the box.

Jesus! Hospital balls galore down our right!!

Wollacott comes for the cross and totally misses it.

Wollacott looking 1/2 asleep

Cuthbert goes to the floor after winning a header. Hes had a good Christmas by the look of it.

Gladwin and Payne have shots blocked in the box.

JML playing more on the left side of the attack as an inverted winger at the moment, Stevenage having the better of the early exchanges.

Wollacott makes 2 saves 1 point blank but cant hold onto the ball and its cleared.

Should have been 1-0 to them.

Some of ours looking very rusty - Kesler then Jojo again.

Putting it mildly.

Don't know how late they settled on this formation but we dont seem like all the players know their roles at the moment, we are looking off the pace again.

Commentators making a big thing of Iandolo looking knackered.

Awful pass from Odimayo into touch.

We look poor.

Corner to Town won by McKirdy.

We should be all right here. Stevenage playing like the home team

One two from Payne ends with a poor shot from 12 yards.

Stevenage players timewasting already.

JML falls to the floor weakly under little challenge looking for a pen, thats not given.

I have turned the commentary off today, it makes a nice change.

Iandolo and Gladwin look a bit "leggy" at the moment.

Payne shoots from the edge of the box, 5 yards wide.

Lacklustre & pedestrian.  Looks like we're short on training time, long on mince pies.

Header wide by Stevenage from a FK.

Another chance for them hit wide. Corner to them.

Another chance for them just wide, another corner.

Bit of a chess game atm. Nothing really happening.

For all the times Conroy plays a wayward long pass at least he is looking for the long pass and some do hit their target, something we have missed today, also Simpsons running into the channels releasing McKirdy and visa versa.

Our long passing is very poor so far.

Painful viewing this. KKH having a bit of a mare so far. Nobody is doing anything much at all.

JML shoots from distance its well over the bar after a nice quick move by Town.

Long shot by them saved by Wollacott.

The game seems to have livened up the last 5 mins.

McKirdy is so isolated he might as well not be there.  Gets chopped down whenever he does get on the end of a through ball.  Confidently predict he'll be losing his shit again & picking up another yellow if this carries on.

True that.

Great tackle from Hunt as Norris pile-driver rebounds off Wollacott. He stopped a goal for sure then.

Not 100% sure it wasnt a foul on List.

Poor foul by Iandolo on Norris in a dangerous position.

They hit the post from the resulting FK.

Outplayed byStevenage. Jesus!

Norris beats Gladwin in the air from free kick and heads against the post. Lucky.

The referee looks like he had a decent Xmas

Reed yellow for bringing down Andrade who is much quicker than him

This is pretty shit so far, plenty of room for improvement. Stevenage are shit but currently outplaying us and having much better chances than us.

Iandolo nearly scores a 30 yard own goal but luckily it goes wide for a corner to them. Hes having a fucking mare.

Heads not here.

Iandolo with backpass that Wollacott wasn't ready for. Goes across goal for a corner.

Melee  from corner. Stevenage continue to press.

Thought he’d been one of our better players so far.

1 word sums us up.

Disjointed.

Passing from everyone is poor.

I'd go for 'shit'

I bet Garner is already writing down rusty, fitness, Covid and lack of game time in readiness for is post match.. 

Really? interesting, I think hes been very poor and leggy so far.

Iandolo breaks and outruns the ball and loses it in the middle.

Jojo has been awful.

Payne blocked off 25 yards out but the ref doesnt give us the foul.

HT 0-0

Lucky to be level really. Really disjointed performance. Play like this against City and it could be 10

Nice bit of interplay between East, Iandolo, Gladwin, McKirdy and JML leads to nothing.

Then Stevenage attack and Wollacott comes rushing out of goal. Stevenage squander and ref blows for HT.

He looks very pissed off while walking off TBH, some of his handling has been very poor but he has stopped everything he has needed to so far even if not as confidently as he does normally.

Well let's hope Garner breaks the habit and pulls out the hairdryer..  it needs it..

Yet another dreadful 45 minutes of dross.

Garner doesn’t have a fucking clue how to set a team up.

Terrible. We literally have no tactics or game plan and as for the ‘defending’  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Lucky Stevenage are terrible.

I said exactly this to Batch about 10 mins ago.

67% possession with no shots on target v Stevenage 4 on target

He needs a fucking hairdryer like we do mate :D


Oh right...:)

Lucky to be level.

Stevenage are poor but look more threatening than us.

We are disjointed. Passing is heavy and wayward. There appears no space anywhere. Don't remember us having any chances.

Hunt saved a certain goal. Kept us in the game

Pretty much zero threat from us.

A bit more from them.
The JJW rebounds have been kind.

All about the 3 points tonight.
Doesn't matter how.

I’ve seen far worse halves from us, but never have we been so asleep, so flat and so boring.

I will be glad once this Man City game is out of the way - we haven't been the same since the draw.  Not saying that is the reason for the current form, but the distraction certainly hasn't helped.  Couldn't give a shit about the FA cup and who we play if it stops us having a chance of going up

:D

My view so far. Very lucky to be level.Defence all at sea. KKH showing a degree of hopelessness not seen previously.Combination of  last ditch defending,poor finishing and the metalwork saving us on several occasions. East,Reed and Payne tidy but not incisive. Gladwin,McKirdy and JLM complete nonentities so far. Not saying he's the answer to all our problems but Williams not worthy of a starting place in this team is a complete mystery to me.

If he’s fit get Simpson on for JML, get Iandolo off as he looks well knackered and put Hunt there, get Grant on at CB with Odimayo, Jonny Williams for McKirdy.

Who is 2nd bottom?
On this showing a neutral will be thinking its us.
Fucking woeful and Stevenage are showing us how to press quickly and move the ball with some urgency. We will be lucky to keep a clean sheet let alone get 3 points from this unless Garner starts to act on this type of performance.

Just tuned in, has Cuthbert scored yet? See we haven't changed for the better  ::)

Garner said some players only came back to training on Boxing Day maybe Williams was one of them.

Maybe,but he's not started the last 3/4 games either

I'm not singling him out but JML is or has been tonight dreadful. If he starts the 2nd half either our other forwards are too poorly to play or Garner is blind.

Garner won't change anything until 60 mins

Think we really miss Conroy’s leadership at the back. Hunt and Odimayo look like what they are - a stand in partnership. Very quiet too.

They're bigger than us but aerial duels won only 9%.  That's could well tell and so nearly did with Norris' header against the post.

I think we definately miss Conroys long passing starting moves. We look shakey at the back too so far. I would get Grant on in defence, he cant do a lot worse, but then I would change pretty much the whole team if I could!

Not sure Garner can change his socks

Wow JML starts :suicide:

Aren’t we only allowed 3 subs?

I would guess Williams on for East on 60 and Simpson on for JML on 70.

East has been really quiet today, not really looking for the ball to be the outlet either.

Much better Town

Gladwin, Iandolo and JML overloading the fullback 3 to 1 yet we still do fuck all with the cross.

Payne long shot defelected wide for a corner.

Certainly started brighter this half.

Good break by JML who finds Gladwin on the left and he falls over the ball.

Great chance for Stevenage blazes wildly over the bar from 15 yards.

And just like that Stevenage break quickly and fire over the crossbar. Thought that was 1-0!

Hunt and Iandolo with good tackles then. Gladwin looks lost in the middle so far this half.

Iandolo looks like he’s run a marathon

McKirdy slowly beginning to lose his cool. Getting very frustrated.

TBH he looked like that after 10 mins, if he has had covid he is not fully over it.

Hunt has been our best player tonight by far so far - IMO

He ran around for the first 5 mins of 2nd half. Since then he has been stationary looking to play a worldy pass - Ain't gonna happen!

Not watching, but this is sounding like a carbon copy of the Barrow game.

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McKirdy beats his man and shoots from 25 yards, well high and wide.

Yep. Agree.

We are entering Garner sub window

We are making a better fist of it this half but still lacking quality.

Sub Lottery....65 mins Williams for Gladwin(or East)....70 mins Simpson for McKirdy.

Simpson for JML is it then..

Yep. Simpson getting ready

Hasn't McKirdy got to get his Instagram booking before he can be taken off?

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Simpson for JML 62 mins.

JML off for Simpson - an obvious sub even on a night of such poor quality

Poor ball by Hunt. JML looked pissed off.

Now he's pissed off so Simpson can come on.

McKirdy about to blow off.

I reckon Simpson looks like 1 of the 2 that they were waiting for the 2nd negative test on..  probably only joined back up in the last day or so

Odimayo gives away a corner trying to sheild the ball into touch.

KKH robs Norris in the box

That was a Simpson sprint where legs turned to jelly - definitely short of training for the lad

Williams on for McKirdy 68 mins.

I was close...

TBF Simpsons has had jelly legs in previous games at times!

McKirdy has the first touch of a rapist tonight. Starting to link with Simpson.

Oh! So Garner replaces McKirdy with Williams.

Has Gladwin got something over Garner? Bloke has done sweet fa!

The match stats say no, but have we had a shot on target yet? (70 mins)

I got both oncoming players right and 1 outgoing and both close times :)

Definately no :)

Gladwin obviously reminded Garner at half time that he has the photos....

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Gladwin with a cross. Pulled back by Payne (?) Eventually out to KKH who slips as he tries to shoot

Great break by Gladwin but he plays a thro ball to KKH's head and not his feet, very very poor.

Sometimes it does feel that may be the case.

I’m not sure gladwin has the passing skills he thinks he has

Fully fit or not why the fucking fuck did Williams not start tonight.

He has struggled recently for sure.

He makes things happen

Reed direct free kick well wide.

Reed freekick wide. Never looked like scoring from there!

Att 8131 - 112 away

Town better get some fucking urgency here.  

about 100 more than it looks for them.

Think my 'Swindon Town nil' is looking a good shout

That’s a good turnout

FFS Iandolo why dive there.

Iandolo dive in the area. Yellow card

Iandolo shot from 20 yards flapped at by the keeper.

Iandolo - first shot on target!! 80th min

No more than 50, tops.

Christ.    Can anyone deliver a ball from the corner. 

keeper lucky to save at Williams feet.

Through ball to Williams. Keeper saves.

I counted pre game and there were 26, doesnt look many more now.

They have a header well over the bar, they are coming at us more now so leaving gaps at the back so we need to make sure our breaks count.

I assume he cannot play more than 30 mins for some reason or another, be it PPG or fitness?

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Mystery

Dorris goes off for them

Odimayo appears injured. Down in the box stretching his legs. Poss cramp

Man of the match is going to be hard. Hunt because of a couple of blocks or Williams because he’s least tried to attack since coming on. That’s about all I can think of.

Lyden for East

East off for Lyden.

Hunt is the only one who can possibly be MOTM for me

Exactly.

Iandolo shepherds back to Wollacott

Lets wait until Williams bags the 92nd minute winner first ;)

Oh FFS KKH that was shocking.

Iandolo with a superb cross (Gladwinesque) goes across area and KKH pits it over the Townend!

What a shame that chance fell to our worst player on the night

Kaine has polygon boots on.

Think he has been since mid October.

Think the sponsors saw MotM like us - Hunt

Our passing today has at times been shocking, even the dependable Reed has wasted pass after pass today.

Pretty easy decision. For me only East came close

4 mins added.

For me East was chasing shadows all the 1st half, no brainer, Hunt for me.

We're gonna get dicked on Saturday

Payne 20 yarder well over the bar.

Game over. Shambles.

Payne shot way over and to the right of goal.

This is as good as a lose for me.  Pathetic 1st half that cost them a real chance at a win

FT 0-0 that was pretty shit TBH.

Simpson through but defended well.

Pathetic drivel.

Toothless up front, dodgy at the back and weak as piss in midfield.

Garner isn’t the answer.

Williams is the only one on the field that seems to have any fire in my opinion.  Too bad apparently he can only play 30min

FT 0-0

Could have been worse, but not much!

Couldn't beat a very poor and toothless Stevenage.

I worry about Saturday.

I fear for the Man City game. I hope they play their U23s otherwise it could be double figures.

TBF - they looked fucked at the end - I think there was just not enough fitness put into them over the past few weeks - understandable why of course..

I put that one down to them being knackered, so not a loss is a positive.  16 players with Covid out of a squad of 23?  It is what it is..

Think the honeymoon period is well and truly over for Garner now, this transfer window is key for him. I’ve never seen such a flat atmosphere at home over a sustained period of time, this team plays with such an absence of any intensity it’s almost impossible to get the crowd going.

You don’t half talk some shit, we are in the play offs, 4 points off automatic with a game in hand.

Yes easy choice. At least East rarely gave the ball away tonight,I think he was the pick of our midfield

only watched the last 13 and it was so-so.  dogged defending and a great ball in to kkh, bounded up and he spooned it

I gather I didn't miss much.

Got to put it into context with the covid and extended break, no real training and prep.

but yes we don't have time to do this again on Saturday if it's on

Fair result overall. First half Stevenage were the better side and on another day probably would have been 1-0 up at half time.

Second half Swindon dominated the ball without really creating many chances. Stevenage resorted to long hopeful balls.

Hunt was mom and Williams looked decent when he came on. KKH didn’t have the best of games which was a shame as he always seemed to be an outlet.

Like most have said, we need a couple of reinforcements just to freshen things up. The last 2 games (and second half against Orient) we haven’t looked like scoring from open play.

Just my take
JoJo 6  couple of decent stops,although one as a result of his own error
KKH 3 absolutely woeful in every respect.Horribly missed our best chance
Hunt 8 solid as a rock
Odimayo 6 One crucial tackle in first half and generally unruffled
Iandolo 5 decent one minute shocking the next
JML 4 nonentity
East 6 tidy,good first half. Rarely gave the ball away
Reed 5 not up to his usual standard.Too many misplaced passes
Payne 5 ditto
McKirdy 4 frustrating
Gladwin 5 seemed to improve a little after Williams came on
Subs
Simpson 4 Totally off the pace
Williams 7 Showed the spark that almost won us the game

did mckirdy get booked?

To be fair, I can't disagree with anything Audrey said. At the same time, what you say is 100% factually correct...funny old game isn't it? :hmmm:

Best part of tonight’s zzzzz fest was Dominos for our row in the DR. Other than that a quick get away from the cricket ground.

No. That's how ill he must be.  :eek:

Town 16/1 citeh 1/10 after tonight’s showing best we can hope for is their coach to break down enroute.

Garner:
- Off where we would normally be
- Other clubs will be in the same position too
- Credit to our medical department
- That will do several players good
- Strange situation. Professional sport and having to do things that are difficult
- Iandolo was one of the hardest hit players. Only back since Boxing Day
- Got through 90 mins. Played good football at times. But have had 16 players out with illness
- Character, togetherness go through it
- Two centre halves were excellent
- Had to change shape tonight.
- Very proud of that
- Still thought about Stevenage and tactics
- Better in the second half
- Had to play back 4 as we didnt have any other fit players. Had to make a shape around that
- Start of 2nd half good. Had much more control
- Lacked sharpness due to time off
- Breaking teams down: They sat in a low block. Every restart took an eternity. They slowed the game.
- We kept trying but could unlock
- East played a cracking ball to Williams
- Did't create enough. Didnt look like scoring enough
- Take positives, have to recover for Northampton game
- EFL need to take a look at the quick turn around of games. More subs? Need to look after the players
- 16 players all tested positive
- If players can train for 2 days then they can play
- Like to think that is consistent across the league. But thinks some have taken advantage when they have injuries
- Northampton called off tonight but will play on Saturday
- The two unavailable tonight can train and are available for the weekend. However, its a fine balancing act in getting them fit again
- New players: We'd like to get 1 or 2 in quickly in key areas. Then use the rest of the window to assess players we want. We have targets.
- Chorley has been working hard.
- We are still under embargo and restriction of squad numbers.

Have you been watching? We are getting worse.

😲

a Christmas miracle :)

thanks for the Garner comments NMH, as ever

Quote from: Quagmire on Today at 21:33:21
You don’t half talk some shit, we are in the play offs, 4 points off automatic with a game in hand.


I think if you regularly watch the Town away from home, you will have a more upbeat perspective of our season so far. I only watch the home games and have to agree with one supporter who texted radio Wiltshire and said 'We are one dimensional and boring'
I didn't go tonight. simply couldn't muster the enthusiasm. I couldn't hear the crowd.

Missed the first bit, but he tends to repeat himself.

I think I would have to agree with this.   Other teams adjusted to towns game and town hasn’t countered that move apparently

We aren’t getting worse, we are having a bit of a blip in form, as every team does every season.

Our players didn’t train for 10 days, 16 of them have had Covid and they have been back together a week. Tonight wasn’t that bad when you take that into account.

Normally that would be a good defence for a lacklustre performance but the problem is that tonight was no different to every other home game this season, the way we play just continues to suck the life out of the crowd at home.

disagree completely. can you let me know when our home form was good? this covid hit team performed a generic home performance end of.

our home showing is embarrassing and we could copy and paste each home match day thread. the fact that garner said our football at times was fantastic is equally embarrassing, who is he trying to kid.

That’s what I said?

I don’t for a second think we are playing well at the moment, but I just don’t think it’s ‘that’ bad. Especially bad enough for comments like ‘Garner isn’t the answer’.

The home form isn’t great, and it does get frustrating to watch sometimes but I don’t think we are far away.
A few players added in January and it could all click.

I don’t think a change if manager is what we need, just a bit more patience.

apologies I somehow quoted you instead of quagmire.

I thought we played ok under the circumstances but yes we need a couple of forwards to finish moves of. Mystified about Williams lack of game time. He should be the best player in this league by some distance. These are not normal times, Garner is doing a fantastic job imho and some of the football good to watch. Such Fickle fans with short memories like spoilt toddlers at Christmas at times. We have a club and we’re in the playoffs FFS.

Tonight was no different than the Harrogate game for me. Majority of possession, no real chances and gifting the opposition a few guilt edge opportunities that thankfully they mostly squander.

People were resorting to making their own entertainment with the lights on their mobile phone tonight as it was that boring to watch. If we aren’t getting results then this will become a problem as people are clearly getting a bit bored of it now and frustration will start bubble to the surface. We need to find a way to get some intensity into our play and the crowd involved. Gladwin sums up as a team; slow, lethargic, capable of moments of brilliance but lacking of any kind of intensity or physicality.

Not a pleasing performance or result, but think the context of Covid disruption has to mean we don't get too worked up about it.

We go into January in a position where we have every chance lf going up if we strengthen the squad. I'd have taken that at the start of the season, but that doesn't mean every step of the way has been enjoyable.

We have been poor at home, no excuses.

The only thing more asleep than the players (who I’ll cut some slack given the Covid issues) was the Town End. When I used to go in there, there were people who saw it as their job to get things going. I can only assume they’ve moved to sit elsewhere - because the Town End is mute this season.

That was a truly dire 1st half and we could have been at least 2 down at half time. 2nd half was better and played at a higher tempo, strange as Garner majored on the impact of the Covid outbreak in his post match interview.

He said he was proud of the players 3 times in the space of 5 minutes in his interview  and talked about the difficulty of having to play again on Saturday. FFS they are professional athletes who should be more than capable of playing twice in 3 days.  Also talked about them putting their bodies on  the line, made them sound as though they are soldiers going out to fight during WW2. Some perspective is needed and I for one  am absolutely fed up with modern coaches moaning about how badly players are treated. They are well paid individuals doing a job that involves more time off than the vast majority of the working public get.

He should have said something along the lines of " we started slowly, I understand the fans getting frustrated as the 1st half was nowhere near good enough, we improved 2nd half but still didn't create enough chances and will be looking for higher intensity at the start of the Northampton game to get the fans behind us from the off"

Only Hunt, Odimayo, East and Williams looked at the races tonight. Gladwin flattered to deceive and McKirdy, Payne, Mitchell-Lawson and KKH were completely ineffective. If Iandolo was as poorly with Covid as Garner suggested, then he put in a sterling effort.

Sounded as though Garner doesn't rate our chances against Northampton and beginning to feel that it's all a bit too nice in the camp! He is the complete opposite of old school Sheridan who ranted and raved picking out individuals which clearly doesn't work, but surely I am not the only one who thought his post match analysis was far too positive.

Were you listening to his interview?? He said it's hard for them to come back after having trained for 2-3 days after spending 10 days in isolation with 5-6 days being bed ridden. Giving this, an ask to play again Saturday of course is not easy at all. They put their bodies on the line because it was quite clear a few of them were not fit enough to play a 90 minute game of professional football. Iandolo was knackered, Odimayo got cramp and there was a couple more blowing way more than normal.

We played very poorly but all things considered with the COVID outbreak I thought they put in a shift

Yes of course I listened to the interview otherwise I wouldn't have commented on it! I am also fully aware and understand the context of what he said but he didn't say they had all been bed ridden for 5-6 days only that Iandolo had suffered the most, so presumably this applied to him -  hence I mentioned him. Still do not understand why elite athletes can not play twice in 4 days after 3 days back training - worse case scenario btw  as some were back before Christmas. Dont disagree they put in a shift, just that he was overly positive about the performance.

I don’t have a problem with the players being run down by Covid, to be expected.  I do have a problem with our continued inability to adjust to another team.  Today they were begging to be attacked down the flanks, maybe even with quick 50/50 balls over the top at times.  They were clearly packing the middle and did a good job of it.  We simply played into their hands by carrying on with slow and methodical build up looking for the over powering through the middle.

On the players, I don’t have much time for Iandolo, and he was pretty dire today, but I do not think Inhave ever seen a player look so ill in a professional football game and see out the full 90 mins plus.  Fair play to him for that, but I was surprised he didn’t chuck his guts during that game.

We were also undone by free kick around the box nearly ever time, yet continued to allow them to pull Odimayo furthest sway from the centre.

It’s the stubborn refusal to sacrifice the five year plan for a pragmatic win that annoys me.  4K miles for that.....OK, it was to see family, but still.

Covid is not an excuse for Garner who seems completely unable to change a game and counter the game plan of the away teams that come to the CG

10 home games in and he has learnt nothing. All the away sides have to do is to press us high all over the pitch and they are almost guaranteed to come away from the CG with points.

Very disappointing that after 10 home games where we have won only twice (says it all) the manager either won’t or chooses not to sort the home form out.

These games cry out for a decent defensive midfielder in Grant/Leyden to break up the play.

8k gate again- won’t keep that up by playing a style that bores the life out of the crowd- even worse no plan to mix it up when things don’t go to plan (which is most home games)

what I would say is that for some getting covid isn't as simple as waiting 10 days and off you go

now it might be for most of them. they are going and fit.

for me I got very very light symptoms, but I was in bed by 9 for the best part of two weeks through just being tired - not symptoms.  And i still have a few things not back to normal 2 months later.

that, or even a lack of training/game time can't help.

---------
oops, didn't see another page of comments before posting

yes, being one dimensional is a valid criticism

yes, of course they should be able to cope with 2 games in a week especially after a break - in normal times

Well that was a load of turgid shit. If Stevenage had a half decent striker instead of Dorris they would have won that. I will buy the Covid influence on this one with the caveat that there has been a lot of turgid shit at home. Clem and Angus need to be on at Garner to sort the home form out. Get some intensity and some incisiveness about our play. Oh and Ben, please sign a striker to complement Simpson in Jan and not another attacking midfielder that doesn't score goals.

Clem is here for the entire transfer window, so hopefully having him around will give the Bens the support needed to get in the right players.

What’s a worry is the number of players who have recently turned from decent to dreadful all at the same time.

The past 4 or 5 games have seen Conroy, Critchlow, KKH, McKirdy, even JoJo and a few others’ form deteriorate. Have they just lost confidence in the ‘style’ now it’s not working?

Fair play to those that turn up regularly to watch that shit, though.

Northampton are a massive 12/5 for a win Saturday. Must be nailed on after that awful performance last night.

The highlight was getting my Trust scarf before the match.

really poor probably the poorest it's been for me. The passing was off and even throw-ins after the 1st minute were being played behind players. I have said it all season though let's wait until January to see how we recruit as let's face it we can moan all we want but we did struggle to put a team out all summer so let's see how we change things.

On the covid subject fair play to them as that would not have been easy at all  i am still struggling with catching my breath 3 weeks later so just because they are footballers doesn't mean they suffer any differently, it was visable in th first half at times they were fucked and Kesler Hayden could hardly walk at 1 point.

Finally and just as important as performances is the atmosphere for me, it's absolute shit and I know some will blame the performances but it's a 2-way thing. Last night, for example, it took until the 9th minute to hear a thing out the crowd, the club seriously need to look at a way of getting the crowd involved between 2.50 and kick-off and get the players walking in to a good atmosphere from the 1st minute. Last night at half time the crowd were at their loudest singing sweet caroline, i am not suggesting that song but lets get rid of the current song and get something that gets the crowd going

I'll give up my season ticket if Sweet Caroline becomes 'a thing'. Fuck that shit.

Atmosphere is fucking shite though, has been all season. I've had a big break from attending regularly before this season, TE was noisy as fuck when I was a regular before. I guess though that like myself, some of those regulars have moved, can't/don't go any more etc and it's had a negative impact on the atmosphere.

Don't even ask the South Stand for a song any more!

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8hDw6mS2pI

Very close to how I saw it too but for me Iandolo was a 4 at best as was Gladwin.

Ditto. But I'm with adje on Iandolo (our only shot on target) and with PV on Gladwin.  :D

Whilst I made the comments about covid affecting performance last night I do agree it wasn’t much better than most home performances. The worry for me is we don’t have the personnel to mix it up… we could start playing long but neither Simpson or McKirdy can hold it up, same applies for just whipping balls in the box. That being said, every player could play 2/3 touches quicker, Gladwin the main culprit for that. I don’t mind possession football but the ball has to be moved faster otherwise you’re going to piss off a lot of the fan base

The last 2 performances have been awful.   At Barrow we were slow, negative and didn't create a single chance.  The first half yesterday was even worse.  

Bradford was the only other game that comes close in shitness and that was entirely down to Garner as he changed formation despite being on a decent run.

Yes we're doing ok points wise but we have to be at 100% to win games playing this way and when we're not it's very easy to play against and the refusal/inability to adapt is a concern.

Not calling for his head by any means but I'm not convinced he's the long term solution either.   The recruitment has been good though especially given all the restrictions and lack of time.

Havent read back.

Well that was shite.

Stevenage could of been three up at HT and one up would of probably been enough.

Second half was better but not enough.... ballooned every chance apart from the one that was fisted away.

A hard solid defensive wall from Stevenage but not the quickest, it needed sharp and snappy passing to get around them...that was lacking all night.

. This is largely where I am at. I do think it's far too early to suggest that Garner isn't the man for the job.  He and Chorley have put together a squad at super short notice that sits in the play off places going into the new year. He should be commended for that. While they may have got in a lot of their targets (and I am sure they missed out on some too), they would not have known for certain how they would gel as a squad and suit the style of play. I am sure its been a learning curve for the players too.

In terms of the players coming in, there have been far more hits than misses. I do think we are a couple of key players short though. An actual striker that can hold the ball up, back to goal and a CB are musts for me. Let's see what the Bens do in January to address our shortcomings.  

As has been said, we need to move the ball quicker and be more incisive. When we do that, our possession based football looks great. When we are slow and ponderous it looks awful.  There seems to be no in-between with us.

So, it's a B+ from me for Garner so far all things considered. I am not even sure the end of this season is the time to be saying he isn't the man for the job given the starting point, but let's see how the next transfer window plays out at least.

Anyone got a good condition programme from last nights game in case I can’t get one from the club shop? In my enthusiasm to get into the game on time I completely forgot to get one.

I haven’t read back.
Only the players and management will know the extent to which COVID impacted performance due to lack of training, preparation and fitness.
The weather conditions- strong wing, rain making the ball greasy and skid off the surface also had an impact on passing, particularly in the first half.
We had a makeshift defence which kept a clean sheet - with a bit of luck at times, but also some important tackles and blocks (notably by Hunt, who was excellent). Also a new formation - necessitated by availability - in front of that. East had a tidy game in midfield, but without Simpson (who didn’t look fully fit when he came on) had little up front.
KKH should have won it late on with our best chance.
Let’s not be too despondent as we are still very much in touch at the top, will soon have the absentees available, and are looking to strengthen in January.
Happy New Year everyone.

I think Garner and the club missed a trick regarding the fitness of some players and could have had the game posponed and stretched the rules a little like other clubs probably do. After your isolation period is over there is no guarantee that you are ready to go back to your day job certainly if it involves using energy to get your fitness levels back. I had Covid and even after three weeks home from work I wasn't ready to do any light exercise without getting out of breath so there's a good probability many of those players last night weren't nowhere near able to give 100% so maybw the smart move would have been to tell the EFL there were at least 11 players within the squad who hadn't recovered and were suffering with long Covid symptons.

Good post - maybe the finances are in much need of a cash boost, notwithstanding Citeh etc.
Just saying.

No doubts all scenarios were discussed behind the scenes.

Been a long month with no income but also with Conroy missing 2 games i can imagine they want him back for City

After considering all options maybe that's why they played the game when they could easily have called me it off.

I thought that when reed was rumoured to be suspended someone said that they were separate competitions.

yeah, they are separate

how rusty will Conroy be though!

I'm also wondering whether there will be signings ahead of the Man City game. Garner suggested there would be 'one or two' early on with more strengthening as the window progresses.

Presumably the opportunity to play against Man City would be a draw for potential signings.

Be very harsh pushing out established players for a one-off game we’re going to get royally spanked in and dumped out of the competition.

its hard to remember going into a big cup game at the County ground where nobody is giving us a chance as it's hard to see us posing any sort of threat whatever team they play with the talent they have to choose from.

Unless they are replacing others who are moving on.

I fear Preston's record may be broken!

Its not helping us being live on TV apart from the money!

1 is bound to be a keeper as we will only have 1 keeper for Man City game, but what type of keeper wants to come in knowing he will be 2nd choice for a few games, and then will be 3rd choice a month later

Of course, who do you suggest that could be?

I've got no idea. I was just speaking hypothetically.

I assume that since Payne and Reed played well for a month or so then there might be other clubs sniffing around. If money is offered then we might not be in a position to refuse it.

It might be that some of the loans are called back and moved up a division. It might also be that Williams has a bit more fitness now and is ready to go up a division or so.

Lots of different scenarios - Some more likely than others.

Grant yes, Payne no, Baudrey only if contract is paid up by mutual consent, Gilbert probably, outside of that we need strength in depth and the management can sniff promotion in the air like I can. Without pissing cash away which we do not have they’ll keep as many as is prudent and get what they can in within their budget which may be better than is widely thought.

A couple of weeks ago Garner said he had no intention of sending Gilbert back as he was pleased with him, if Brentford agree or not may be a different scenario. Gilbert will be a decent player I am sure but currently he adds nothing to our side.

^^^^ this

But with the caveat he is a squad player, no point retuning him unless we can find better or, more likely, different

If his contract allows him to go back without penalty and any monies paid out to keep him here are deemed better used for A N Other then he should go back but of course it’s all speculation and only management and Aberdeen know what’s going on.

tis the season to transfer speculate

Ipswich are intrested in payne by the sounds of things according to a few ipswich fans.

Nip onto their forum and say we’re interceded in Ronaldo, there’s a good chap.

Or tell them we will swap him for James Norwood if he's fit😀