Thetownend.com

Haven't started one of these for years. I used to be lucky, this will put that to the test 🙂

3-1 defeat att 7,800 with 390 Town fans

We will have a blinder of a game, go 2-0 up before Tranmere exact revenge and turnoff the floodlights.

They still go on about that😀

Obviously an away win before a heavy home defeat

HT 0:0

FT 0:2

ATT: 6,666

Away support at Accrington v OUFC: not particularly interested in that stat or their attendances generally

Hurray! Now we don't have to keep posting in the Exeter thread!

It's my lad's birthday tomorrow. He informs me the last time we played Tranmere away on his birthday we won 1-0(Gurney)
So 1-0 it will be(Gladwin)

It’s going to be a very long drive home.

Very sad 5th minute celebration for a young Tranmere fan, Nate Gidman who unfortunately lost his life at the young age of 5 from a brain tumour.
I sure we will give the lad some much deserved respect.

Puts so much into perspective.🙏

Hats off for making the long journey on a Tuesday evening. Do you have to get up early on Wednesday?

I have a bastard 7:30 meeting Jimmy 😂

Only got back £20 from the £120 Barrow train fiasco as well.
Having a right ding dong with Avanti West Coast.

Doing it all again in a few weeks with Carlisle. If the train is cancelled again this time I’m going to lose it.
Fingers crossed that Cross Country don’t screw up the first leg.

My daughter's 5. Must be absolutely life destroying. RIP that young man.

Fuck me you will be grumpy then😡

My kids call me worse. Starting to swear back at me now 😂
Eldest wants to do the complete season with me home and away.
We were  smashing it until Covid curtailed.

I’m on a 4 season roll now 🙏

Heartbreaking Mate, been exchanging messages with a Tranmere fan.
Very emotional evening as they all took this kid as one of their own.
The Dad a massive Tranmere fan.

Remember a few seasons ago under Williams when your lad didn't want to go to Bolton but you changed his mind and we won against all odds😀

.......Many tears have been shed over the years Jimmy.

Out with a few mates the other night, one a big Rangers fan, strong Glaswegian accent.
He reminded everyone that one particular Saturday Morning as the kids came off the football pitch, all my lad wanted was to go home.
Big bellowing Scottish accent  “Sam, ye gannin to Port Vale.”
He had no choice, we were on our way 😂😂

I’m going tonight but not fully sure why. Not expecting much at all, probably a 2-0 defeat

Tranmere, apparently are a bit of a flat track bully and have only scored 1 goal against teams in the top 8 which surely give us hope.

That said, I think they'll beat us 2-0

Hopefully it won't be like the Carlisle game a few years back when a hell of a lot of the Town fans missed most of the first half as the M6 was shut!

Can't see past a 2 or 3 goal defeat with at most a single goal for Town, we are too weak in midfield and toothless up front since Simpson went back even though the defence itself seems on paper much better.

a defeat. 3-1 :(

Just seen we've won the last 5 games between the two sides at Tranmere...

Pre match feeding off of the large portions of chips on shoulders in The Richard John Blackler.
Must remember to tuck the trackie bottoms into socks before setting off for Brokenhead later.
There's a guy in the pub selling knocked of bottles of perfume.
The two old dears at the next table didn't say no.
The Scouse eh, don't you just love them.

Anyway, won on our last 5 visits I believe.
Don't think that will be the case tonight.
Then again the prospects were largely written off prior to the Port Vale game.
Could need another 10 wins (30pts) to make the play offs.
Looks like a tall order, but a long way to go yet.
Sound.

I’m on my way to link up with Wobbly Bob for a shandy or two. I think we will lose today but my many years supporting the town have taught me to expect the unexpected.

2-1 loss....too many players hurt or out.

My lad was right. On his 18th birthday on Feb 8th 2003 we beat them at theirs 1-0 with a trademark Gurney free kick. Our team that day Griemink,Marney,Heywood,Reeves,Duke,Miglioranzi,Hewlett,Robinson,Gurney,Parkin,Invincible.
I think we'll win

I was at that game too, was my wifes first Swindon game, it was cold.

Wasn't that the Flitcroft season when we had a great away record? Great season for fans like me who was boycotting home games. Great season, I couldn't understand all the hate Flitcroft got

This is my first trip to Tranmere. Hopefully we can bring a few and generate a decent atmosphere. I wonder if Garner will change the system today with the midfield absentees.

We will probably go on and win this tonight.

After Saturday, i nearly changed my plans....but fuck it...im going up north anyway...

Yep, and then fail to beat Scunthorpe on Saturday would be typical Swindon.

Head says we will lose by a couple of goals, heart is hoping we can take a point 🤞

Fear we will be overrun in midfield, and the defence will eventually succumb

Any idea how many we have sold for this?

61

Be wary of bumping into this fella Bob.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyMh3kqoKVk

We have 11 games unbeaten against this lot, a run going back to Feb 28th 2009.

Since the turn of the centrury we have played them 28 times home and away.

We have won 15 times, drawn 6 and lost just 7 times, that includes a 4-1 away win in 2009 and a 5-0 demolition under PdC in 2012, no defeat was by more than a single goal and Tranny have not scored more than twice in any game against us since 1999.

In games played at Prenton Park we have won on our last 5 visits scoring 13 goals and conceding just 4 times, 4-1 2-0 3-1 2-1 and 2-1.

Tranny are one of the divisions lowest scorers with just 30 goals in the league so far (we have 43) but have the tightest defence conceding just 20 goals all season in the league (4 of those came in their home game vs the tree huggers just over a week ago).

They sit in 2nd place in the table with just 1 league defeat (against FGR) in the last 13 games.

At home they have won 11 and lost 4 scoring 20 and conceding 10 in their 16 previous home games.

Rovers spread their goals throughout the team with no player having scored more than 5 goals individually so far (Keiron Morris on 5).

They are captained by the geriatric(!) 40 year old Peter Clarke who will play his 850th football league career game tonight.

No, although I thought I’d seen somewhere they were expecting 4/500

Not sure but the fuckers at the club keep trying to get me to buy an Exeter ticket!
I've had 3 emails AFTER the Exeter match saying "Save Your Seats For Our All Ticket Event v Exeter".
First one was sent at 5pm on the 5th...

I mean I could understand if only c5k went but there was over 10k there. There's asking to defer your season ticket refund but buying tickets after the event takes the piss*








*This is largely satirical but does come across a little tinpot/not on the ball

I would think that would be a fair guesstimate TBH with our higher following this season than in several years.

Our highest away following at Tranmere in recent years for a midweek game was 447 in 2013.

Normally we rarely even get many more than 300 even on a Saturday and it has been as low as 127 for a midweeker up there, our average since 2000 is between 200 and 300.

However many make the journey it will be a superb effort for a midweek game considering the distance. It also makes you appreciate the 600+ they brought down here on a Tuesday evening.

381*

I stand corrected but remember BBC Wilts saying it was over 600 on the night

They may have suggested that it "looked like" or "sounded like" 600 but no it was not much more than half that in actual numbers.

They were some of the loudest sets of fans at the CG this season so far, embarressing Exeters 3 times the amount.

Even you were close with your guess!

Cheers JJ I've impressed myself getting that close😀

IIRC the away figure was not announced on the night and was only announced about 24 hours afterwards so any figure on the BBC would have been a guess as there was nothing official at the time.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLGGSl0WYAA-zwL?format=jpg&name=medium)

Better hope Tranmere are playing some pensioners in central midfield

Same old non existent midfield. No doubt with the same conclusion.

Soft as shite.

surely iandolo hasn't been asked to do the central midfield role ahead of East again

Unless Odimayo has been pushed up.

Is Garner likely to have considered that?

More of the same, please!

Looks that way. East must be royally pissed off. I think he's a decent midfielder what I've seen.

Gladders to surprise us all and be a match winner.

Is there anywhere on the swindon-town-fc.co.uk site that gives away fan numbers

Yep, on every match result page.

What's that?!

3-1-2-2-2

6-2-2

3-2-1-2-2

5-1-2-2

4-3-1-2

... ???

Cheers

Perhaps.

Or maybe Iandolo & Tomlinson as WBs and Hunt in midfield?

I think it will be Iandolo on the left side of DM with Tomlinson at LWB and Hunt RWB.

If Iandolo is not left exposed he can do a job in midfield, he has impressed me more there than he has at LWB so far.

I am... interested to see how we line up here.

Well Iandolo on midfield definitely worked on Saturday…

Iandolo was OK in midfield when played left of someone holding.  The same issues he faces at wing back have been exposed in the two times I remember him playing the deep role.  He didn't do anything Bad as such when he came on at the weekend, but the midfield was notably absent once he slotted in, and it was porous before then.

He had big boots to fill on Saturday, not sure he was at fault for either of the goals though.

Maybe he has more of a gameplan set out today rather than being forced into midfield after the injury to Lyden and looking a bit lost at times.

Just settling down to watch this but I’ve suddenly come over a bit crook and will take to me bed.

Hoping for 3 points in the morning.

Hopefully 3 points will improve you mate.

He could be fucking shocking, but Hunt being two footed and pretty dependable if not that exciting going forwards, could well be a decent holding midfielder.  He'd end up being gash now I said that though.

Maybe JML can be turned into a ball carrying central midfielder rather than a winger with no end product, he reminds me of Keshi who started as a striker but was moved to the middle and his game took off with us.

I still hope there is a player in JML but striker and winger probably isn't one of the positions he is best in.

Hope you feel better in the a.m Aud. Keep well bud.

If we line-up the way iFollow has it, this could be very entertaining, in an Andy King way.

McKirdy in central midfield with Gladwin.  Tomlinson upfront.  Odimayo at Right Back with Hunt in front of him and Williams left wing with Iandolo behind him.   Over defending on one side there a little!  Not sure McKirdy is an A Grant type of player, but we shall see.

I dont think for 1 minute thats how we will actually line up!

Sky sports app have us playing 4-4-2 with Tomlinson up front, they really don’t have a clue about anything outside the PL

I think we should be forced to start like it, as if selected in FM by accident and you have clicked the button to start the game.

:D

From contacts up my neck the woods JJ, JML "was" a really hot prospect in Derby's Academy set up and they expected him to be a first teamer in time but he clearly couldn't break into the first xi up there. Obvs went on loan as the correct move but of course Covid happened and the sky fell.

I think it would be worth keeping hold of him if Town have an option to extend for another year. Like you, I think there is a player there he really just needs a bit more development and figuring out his best position (can see why Garner could be the right man to help bring him on).

Trouble is, he is getting to the age where the "development and time" problem start to be no longer accepted. He still does have time of course (for now). Feels a little bit like Iandolo in that sense...can't pin down an exact position but also isn't really a dependable utility player but you still know there is a player in there.

Ian is just about getting there (I think), it's possible JM-L is also a "slow-burner" talent and he'll eventually become a late bloomer. In the interim - frustrating - is probably the word :)

Got away with that, should have been 0-1.

Dolo down injured.

he's alive, aliiiive

McKirdy felled near the touchline, Tranny very physical so far.

Poor delivery from Tomlinson.

0-1

Massive fuck up from Cooper after trying to play out of defence.

what the fuck was cooper doing.

fucking hell

Sigh.

Eesh that is not what we needed.

Just laughing at Wovers losing at Oldham then . . . . . .  :suicide:

1-0 freebie start for Tranmere

Still figuring out the genuine formation amongst all that!

Oh well. Had us down at maybe winning 2-1 against the odds.

Think teams have figured out Town with fuck with the ball in the back so if you pressure them they will lose it.

Should really have been 0-2 already they missed as easy a chance after 2 mins.

Going to be a long night.

Very Conroy-esque from Cooper.

Oldham leading Gas 1-0😀

10 minutes in and it looks like it's going to be a long night

I’ve thought the criticism of Conroy has been harsh recently. When you’re playing that position and asked that 80% of the play starts through you, you’re going to see mistakes, especially at league 2 level, no matter who is playing there.

Cooper lasted 5 minutes.

And they hit the post.

I know it's only 10 minutes in, but really.

Cooper just gave a Youtube video advert as to why asking central defenders at League Two level to play as Hoddle can be a problem.

Iandolo seems completely lost as to where he should be, both in and out of posession.  Gladwin lolloping around and Williams gets too far forward, central midfield vacated again.

this is a bit shit so far

but only 14 in.

This has 5-0 all over it  :cry:

They are all over us like herpes.

I have no idea what the 2nd announcer is saying on ifollow....need closed caption!

Welcome to Scotland.

their backs literally push the strikers everytime the ball comes near them..not even sneaky...just straight up arms extended.

its like he is eating peanut butter out of the jar while commentating.

15 minutes and hardly a single successful pass in Tranmere's half.

This is awful. Typical Garner fare. Why did I bother travelling?

Nothing coming off yet for magic Tommo. Have we broken him already?

I really fucking hate going backwards when you are on their half....

Great cross from Tomlinson but Davison doesnt get much onto the header great chance.

we had a sort of shot

Good chance for Davison. Much better from us

You spoke 2 mins too soon ;)

Peach of a cross from Tom. Bad miss from Davison.

6ft 2 Davison missing that is fucking criminal. Bread and butter that for a big no 9, I don’t care what level of football it is.

And there was me thinking he could head the ball! 😢

Please not another injury to a key player.

Groin trouble for Williams?

oh joy

Wow. 25 minutes til the first mention of Grant

he's  gone hasn't he.

oh, he's back

Williams looks fucked.

At least we've had 64% possession

JML on for Williams.

"oh he's back"

nope, Williams off for JML

that's a strange one

This has all the makings of a bit of a disaster tbh. Hope to be wrong.

Another midfield change not involving East. Bizarre

Williams overused due to Reed's idiocy?

How far away is Payne? We miss his energy in the middle so much.

Could be, Williams looked half at best today before his injury.

AK and then McKirdy with awful touches giving the ball away.

Odimayo never looks at home or comfortable on the left side of a back 3 for me.

The John Sheridan revolution continues at Oldham - 2.0 up at home to Rovers.

Perhaps Sheridan wasn't the problem last season :hmmm:

Sheridan is doing a great job there so far. can't really say more than that. other than he's a cunt

ugh, this game is a bit shit

He will fancy his chances at the County ground

His historic ineptitude last year should never be questioned.

7 pts in 3 games on the cards for Sherry. We're on course to have 6 pts from the last 7 games. No, I wouldn't want him back.

mcKirdy should have done better?

63 fucking % possession and we manage one shot. Fuck possession football it clearly doesn't work.

Freekick floated to back post, headed back by OBrien and defender stops McKirdy scoring as ball balloons into keepers hands

Was well defended

McKirdys touch tonight has been awful.

Has anyone figured out the actual formation yet? For those of us not watching, where are Tomlinson/Hunt/Iandolo actually playing?

Tranmere.

iandolo Central mid
Tomlinson, hunt wing backs

hunt quite far forwards

Tomlinson left back
Hunt right back
Iandolo central midfield

This is as fucking dull as dishwater.

HT 0-1

Glad I saved a tenner !!

Yeah, but how are we supposed to get Premier League youth loans to develop them and send back half way through the year if we just focus on tactics that work?

Absolute crap

Predictable as ever- succumb to the high press and get forced into avoidable errors

Garner your brand of football is shite

that was wank.

let's hope there's a happy ending

So are we allowed to criticise as I’m confused, if you do, you get told “we never had a club in the summer”. I’m sorry but watching this is dreadful, renewals will be in a few weeks time….

Can only get better I suppose

Are you talking about the game, or are you in some back street massage parlour?

Lots of pretty passing but no end product. Swindon are very much like Arsenal in the premier league. On their day Swindon can beat anyone in the league but just seem to pass side to side with no end product. Too many games we have gifted teams with goals. If we did somehow get promoted then we would massively struggle against better quality teams (unless our team has a complete overhaul).

I'm taking about the game but imagining I'm elsewhere

Oh dear.
Surely there is a reason why Garner is doing this.
Possibly this style of football is great with players with lots more skill but 2nd division players are just not that skillful
Different horses for different courses Ben.

 

Criticise when and who and how you want!

Barring Northampton at home and Port Vale away we have been dreadful since Harrogate at home in November at least 12 games.

For a passing side our passing has been totally shite. Another unforgivable gift puts us in the mire yet again

Exactly this. How many will renew ST for another season of Garnerball

Tranmere look very average but they don’t need to be anything better to beat us.

Stay compact, organised and wait for us to gift them a goal. That strategy only took 5 minutes to pay off.

Garner gets a lot of stick but he’s not to blame when Cooper makes that mistake and Davison misses from 6 yards.

Still in this but it feels inevitable they’ll get a cheap 2nd to kill it off.

If this stays as it is, it’ll be 3 wins from our last 15 games.

Well we're only one down from an individual error and we've dominated possession. Would people be whinging this much if it wasn't for that mistake? They're direct, and as dangerous as you'd expect from a team in the autos. Without Williams, it's hard to see us unlocking the defence through the middle, and Hunt never delivers much from the right but Tomlinson's thrown in a few decent crosses and we need to feed more through him.

It's not brilliant, but it's not wrist-slitting bad.

You can't blame Garner for the Tranmere goal.

The side seem bereft of confidence and are missing Reed and Payne bigtime.  

Being constantly pressed is tiresome but Reed did help us bypass pressers out of the game at times.

This is just cumbersome and constantly invites pressure in our own half.

Thats poor to say the least.

I'm hopefully for better in this half.

(I'm so pissed off so far that I NEED to be optimistic)

We must be near the bottom on current form

Ooh, there's our not-given-penalty for the game. Tick that one off on your bingo card!

What was that centre from Gladwin?

15th.

https://thefishy.co.uk/formtable.php?table=4

I think he was caught in 2 minds whether to try a shot or cross and ended up being neither.

Didn’t look much in it for me.

Penalty: There was something similar either before or after their goal in the first half.

Another mention for Anthony Grant. Unbelievable obsession from Hawes. Unhealthy

I'll bet you a pound Garner sees it differently!

That on the other hand (literally) could have been given against Cooper.

Least we have a club, hey!

Jesus I didn’t realise it was that bad

Are JML's legs made of jelly? everytime he gets the ball at his feet he falls over like hes been snipered.

Have you got any sellotape?

0-2 been coming.

0-2 Good goal

19th on away form which surprised me!

That was shit Garnerball.  FFS!

2-0, stupid play again .

sigh

Right. Need to score 3 now then. COYRs!

I never know how accurate the sky app stats are but we’ve had 2 shots from 65% possession and Tranmere have had 8 shots from 35%

Sounds about right.

We keep the ball but they score goals with it, massive difference.

Feel good factor gone I’m afraid. We’re not very good at all.

But hey, we at least we have a club…

Oh well. We haven’t really had a plan here since Williams went off. Midfield completely anonymous. McKirdy and Davison are miles from each other. Feel free to whinge.

Make that 9 shots

Fuck off, we are getting worse every week.

Good booking from JML. His first contribution.

Garnerballs up.

Tough game today, Tranmere a good side. In isolation, these things happen. In context of the last month or two, it's not great. The club needs a win at the weekend.

Shite academy football is not cutting it since Man City

As shit as this is, I'm very much in the "I'm glad we've still got a club" camp. This season was pretty much a case of survival.

This is grim. Scunthorpe will be rubbing their hands at facing this shite on Saturday.

Sent from my XQ-AD51

Going on that alone we need 32.5% possession per shot.
Tranmere need 3.9% possession per shot.


Again, how accurate those stats are I can’t say but that clearly shows there is something massively and fundamental wrong with what we are doing

Having a lot of possession going nowhere is absolutely pointless when you make shite mistakes that lead to goals. This is getting worse every game.

it is fair to say the loss of Payne, Reed and Lyden has fucked us

As has Simpson's departure.

But it's not been great at home anyway. And now our insane away form is on the wobble.

we may regroup when players come back, but it's going to be too late

The players we've lost recently have made a massive dent in our team. Frustrating to watch but not a surprise.

Cracking miss by ex Pox Hemmings.

soapy tit wank. Tranmere miss a sitter

Same stats on BBC and on iFollow too.

Let's have a bit of Aguilar and Parsons then.

May as well.

Should be 3-0. Defence is asleep.

Fuck all to lose now.

McKirdys worst game for Town so far IMO, hes been utterly terrible today.

Ooh,better keep your head beneath the parapet with that!🙂
( I'm with you!)

We lost 5 in Jan & replaced with 4, should have been a few more IMO.

No doubt all getting them from the same source.

Now saying 12 shots from 35%. That’s less than 3% per shot now

I think we have now found our level after over achieving earlier in the season. Body language from the players after their second said it all for me, no-one saying a bloody thing to each other, bit of a shambles now.

What does JML offer? Has he even touched the ball yet? Just seems completely out of his depth. Like he’s won a competition.

All he's gonna get today is a card

Yep,a lot of shin pad checking

Tranmere are letting us have as much of the ball as we want and then nick it and score, thats all they need to do, I wouldnt be surprised if you get 75% possession at the end.

Add to that McKirdy's dramatic loss of form

Penalty to them.

Is Caddis seriously suggesting possession for possession sake is a waste of time? Sacrilege. 3 0 to Tranny.

penalty

Would probably take a draw from here.

Soft, but O’Brien made it easy to give.

balls

FFS

0-3 foregone result.

3-0

I'm off to the Winchester for a pint until this all blows over

please make some fucking subs  garner. games gone, give some of our players a run out

No team has destroyed us. We've destroyed ourselves time and time again.

It's got 4-0 written all over it😡

Not sure who to take off now.

fuck this. see ya later

Two penalties from corners under no imminent danger in consecutive games.

Sort it out Garner

Lowest crowd of the season Saturday!

Orient would be the only side who properly outplayed us IMO but otherwise, 95% of all the goals we have let in have come from silly mistakes.

The only thing worse than being this shit is having to hear the happy clapping cunts throw their toys out of the pram at people being negative as if there isn't a fuck ton to be negative about at the moment.

"but at least we have a club"

Fuck off, Garner out.

Parsons - Hurrah!

Treating it like a friendly now.

Completely agree. He might be a very good u23 coach but he’s not a very good head coach. Can’t change a game & I know I will be told to “shut up” however I pay my money & im entitled to an opinion. I worry that the crowds will dwindle down & renewals will be poor.

This is a really tough watch, we have been utterly inept and toothless, no heart.

It is fun how Town keeps fucking about with the ball then the other team takes it from them then has opportunity.  

got nothing to lose by sending ball across the field or something instead of just loosing it 40yds from your own goal.

Exactly I agree. I would get short of him now to be honest. The season is gone get someone in who knows how to manage. These players are better than 3 wins in the last 15

I wonder what positives Garner will come up with!

Agree on this form renewals will be bad. Get shot of him and bring in someone who can manage a game of football

Aguilar for McKirdy.

Garner has listened to me! 😂

70% possession I would imagine.

But... but... but.... We've not had a proper pre season... loads of injuries... and we've had loads of possession...

Garner will say the following:-

Possession was a plus.
Players will continue to play this way.
Davidson will get better.
This season was never about going up.

Blah, blah, blah

Which they let us have😀

Time for a shezz-erection

That's good :clap: :clap:

It'll be the refs fault again.

Sent from my XQ-AD51

Imagine the scenes when we get pumped 4-0 by John Sheridan's Oldham at home...

6 pointer v Scunny on Saturday.

Oh terrific, it's time for the needless cards.

Are they though, not saying Garner doesn't carry a lot if this but the number if times we get into a decent forward position then the player on the ball doesn't have the ability to pick a ball or has no one moving into space and available so its simple ball after simple ball back yo keeper then short pass to defender who fucks it up.

Decent ball playing players don't tend to stay in L2....

Anyway fuck this misery, the smile or makes me feel good thread is where the action is this evening....



Sent from my SM-A125F

A red card for dissent, strike me down with a feather.

Scott Marshall sent off now.

Got to address our appalling off the pitch indiscipline.

Weak as piss.
Worst of the season .

Oldham currently on 29% possession......the opposite to us😀

Can't see how the manhandling of Iandolo escaped any card, tbf.

I think there would be mutiny in the stands

A Mutiny on the County (Ground).

Anyone can score goals in this team

I wouldn't mind if these red cards were worth it. Dissent is dull. Would have liked Marshall to knock that cunt Clarke out. Or the prick who won the penalty and then screamed in O'Briens face. But dissent. I hope it was a proper naughty rant.

At least we aren't in danger of relegation (looks at table and works out mathematics and shuts up).

Looks as if we will have some excitement in the 2nd half of the season though!

Not even angry about the game, just numb now.

Poor effort.

Fed up with it.

Plus point, at least it was only 3 could easily have been a 6 goal defeat.

Diabolical this. Tons of possession but hardly any in the final third, we are completely unable to get the ball into the forwards. We get pressed high and have absolutely no idea how to combat it apart from continuing to do what isn’t working, clueless tactically. Surely the management team must know how tranmere were going to play, utterly baffling that we don’t come up with a plan to combat it. We just continue to play the same way for 90mins, crazy!

Pretty much this. We better not let Sheridan win against us.

Caddis' pronunciation of endeavour my motm

I wonder what what Clem thinks of all of this.

Bastard of a drive back mate.... at least I can just switch off🤦‍♂️

Abject powder puff performance. Individual errors and no midfield did for us. McKirdy anonymous and JML was JML. Davison tried but had nothing. Dogshit .

Money coming into the club with decent crowds. Cheap appointment, not sure he’s worried at the mo.

Lacking a leader. I’m not quite yet in the ‘garner out’ camp, but we all know deep down he isn’t gonna last don’t we 🤷‍♂️. I actually feel like we have a good enough squad, but seems the squad for whatever reason have lost the confidence/faith. Perhaps it’s Conroys fault undermining the manager insisting on the fact he should play v Citeh?…Payne and Reed back in and see what happens eh. I’d have every confidence in wellens turning this around, but sadly not garner. But hey, we’ve moved on right.

We looked what we are. A team hastily assembled with no pre season. A team hampered by recalled loans. A team decimated by injuries and a team on a bad run of form.
However you have to wonder whether it's a temporary run or whether the return of key players will bring about a change of fortune. Have to say though that such a ragged performance,totally lacking in quality maybe too hard to recover from. Ironic,just when we thought we had a solid defence we put in our worst defensive performance of the season and were lucky it wasn't at least 6

we are ahead of target

I mean we genuinly are. that we are wasting an opportunity is the issue

The defenders we have are probably the best we have had for a couple of seasons.   However, the midfield is currently non existent and the forwards can't get the ball to stick very often, plus we have central defenders being asked to pass it around amongst themselves without anyone coming to take it from them.  Reed being back may improve that a little, but Davison is just not a good enough player, so we lose that option as well.

It's all very Luke Williams now.

No attendance details🤔

Did our embargo do us a favour and mean we could only offer a year contract to Garner or does it not apply to coaching staff?

Caddis:
- There is a time and place to play out from the back.
- You have to earn the right to do that.
- You have to turn defenders with longer balls for the first 5-10 mins. That way it turns the defenders and stops the other team from pressing.
- More forward passes and quicker

piss stains losing 2 0 at Stanley lightened my mood

Attendance ?

Smirk

Pity those who traveled, I turned over at half time and watched Newcastl

AG to score Saturday?

 :D :girlgiggle:

Garner:
- Got punished for mistakes we made
- Tough evening for us
- Not different to what we expected and prepared for
- Our lapses helped build Tranmere's confidence
- Garner accepts full responsibility
- Young team that are learning
- Not on anyone else other than Garner
- Apologised to fans who travelled
- First goal was very important in this game.
- Made it a very difficult evening.
- Good start to second half, but a second mistake and we are 2-0 down
- Playing direct against their defenders: The ball will be straight back at you
- Losing Williams was a blow
- Not too many changes in shape that we could make
- For spells in the first half it worked.
- Just became difficult with the mistakes we made
- Defensively, we should have had clean sheets before this.
- We are on a tough run
- We have made it difficult in recent games
- Need to show character
- Need to turn it around
- Hard not to be subdued after a result like that
- Apologised to fans again
- No hiding for this. We are in a tough place
- Sometimes this happens in football
- Need to show character and resilience
- Williams: Groin
- Conroy: Achilles
- Scott Marshall red: Dont know what happened. Ref sent him off for going into their technical area
- Other teams getting a better handle on us? Need to work on training ground. Difficult period with big turnaround in squad. Several players come in with little football behind them
- Did remarkably well keeping people fit until now.
- Need to find solutions to problems now
- Pick ourselves up and focus on Scunthorpe

Caddis was pretty much spot on with all his observations during the game. Particularly enjoyed his comment of a pass off the ground is still a PASS! We played right into their hands and refused to do anything to change that, really poor. Such a shame after how the season started, the optimist in me still feels one way or the other we’ll turn this round. Doesn’t feel like it at the moment mind.

Hard to argue with that

A Grant will be relishing the opportunity to put his former employers to the sword

Thanks NMH. I think that is the first time BG has publicly recognised there are problems and we need solutions rather than roll out the stick to the process mantra. Over to you Ben - what's the plan going to be?

Great comment. Garner seems to think anything beyond short passes along the ground is hoof ball. We don't even whip crosses straight in from corners and instead opt for passing it around until we lose it, most of the time.

I was hoping you made the mistake of saying

“..all over us like HERMES.”

Just so I could have said something like

Close your eyes and let the mind expand.
Let no fear of death or darkness arrest its course.

Very selfish spelling everything correct and proper JJ  ;)

Glad to see he's owned this one, I hope he gets some short term help in to help him with tactics.  He has some good traits but his primary focus must be to win football matches.

Many of us, including myself, have compared him with Luke Williams, that's not all bad as Luke is a good coach and a decent bloke, but the reason for that is not just the style but the lack of adaptability.

A simple example is that no other team takes goal kicks like we do, because it plays into the other teams hands.   Occasional short kicks yes, but every time is just stupid, predictable and so low percentage it's utterly pointless.
When have we ever looked like walking it up the other end, far better off hoofing it and trying to get some territory and playing from there.

I loved him when he was here but god's sake I'm sick to death of the mention of A Grant every 30 seconds. I swear some people would love to see him score the winner on Saturday. Especially Andrew bloody Hawes

Glass half full:

Home form not looking so bad now that away form is starting to match it.

My word. Was expecting defeat but hoping for a performance.
Pains me to say that my dear old gran minus her dentures still had more teeth on display than what was offered up tonight.

Small squad & 2 or 3 key players missing coming home to roost.

Our next few games are against 3 of the bottom 4. We really need a couple of wins from them just to stop this slide.

Win is a must Saturday

Indeed and quite possible Garner might be realising that he might just be a bit out of his depth?  :hmmm:

When Luke Warm was here I ended up feeling sorry for him because he was such a poor manager (very good coach) yet an owner who simply refused to either sack or reshuffle.

With Garner, he may get better over time but his time isn't the here and now. I would love to see him become a Town u23/Reserve Coach, bringing academy grads through and getting them good for the first team.

A strong owner, for the best of all parties would act now and possibly use some of the additional monies that have come in to get an actual manager in on 1.5yr deal. Both Clem & Rob should seriously be looking at this option. They've got it wrong on the Garner appointment and even Garner is starting to realise it. Time for the board to step up and especially Cockstop Clem (sorry) as he stated he's a "very ruthless guy" when it comes to recruitment. Well, time to do what good bosses do and make the difficult decisions.

Town are going nowhere but sideways-back-sideways-back with Garner as the main organiser of players. His philosophy isn't particularly bad but it can't really be applied in game as it is on the Training Field; it's meant for a better quality of personnel or a couple of divisions up. You can play "nice" football yet still have to be prepared to dig in. No leaders, no true challengers wanting to put a foot in but plenty of players wanting to mouth off - the basic discipline is terrible.

Keep him as a Dev Coach (or in the words of Reg: A cone carrier) if they must but it's embarrassing if he's still manager before March begins; it's like falling in slow motion; we can all see it bloody happening.

Of the games I have seen this season that was easily the worst. Total lack of quality, no grip on game whatsoever and no chances. Very bad mistake for first goal. The first half (goal aside) we looked okay in possession but once the second went in we completely fell apart.

To quote Clem, who is now into Q3 of his 1st year tenure:

“...build a sustainable Championship club; to own the County ground 50-50 with the fans; to very significantly improve and fully modernise the County Ground; to find and fully develop our own training ground; to have the best academy outside of the Premier League; to have a young first team with high-quality players that have come through the academy; to have a fan base that is growing and where as many as possible of the children in the town and surrounding communities are Swindon fans and their heroes are Swindon players."

It's all well and good stating what he intends to do (we can all do that) but that doesn't stop them from being empty promises. Noticing early stagnation in a project is imperative to ensure it doesn't fail. Recognise, rectify and reassemble.

Time to move out of the fantasy paradigm that often comes with Football Club ownership. There's more continued work to be done and built upon. It doesn't stop because the club made it to the 3rd Rnd of the FA Cup. Can't dine out on that one for long. Clem and his board have constantly pressured fans to keep putting their hands in their pockets time and time again; whilst simultaneously creating an environment (and class status amongst fans) where peoole feel guilty if they don't do so or don't defer any refunds - yet dragging their own heels in the process.

Maybe it's about time Clem made his own cash injection at this crucial stage of the season, sign some free agents and potentially a manager who can actively work and manage a mixed age group of talent. If the board are serious about Clem's quoted comment above then they will be doing everything they can to get out of this division this season.

At present it's fast starting to feel like an incredibly sly rug-pull because it appears that Clem might be more skint than he made out. If he can't afford to pay off the "EFL loan money" which subsequently has kept the club in embargo and unable to sign more preferred targets, especially when the club looks like it has a great opportunity for promotion (speculate to accumulate is not an uncommon phrase) then he's fast going to start looking like yet another complete chancer. If they start to make excuses, especially when they stated they have several million to invest and ready to go it really doesn't add up.

Why would anyone keep their head only just above water when they claim to be capable of riding the ocean wave?

I'll probably get slated for this, but I think we are overreacting a bit here.

Tranmere play ugly and are doing well out of it. The stifled and broke play up. Caddis talked about them leaving traps that we fell into - Especially for the second goal, which, was well worked. They broke up play in our half by crowding the midfield then attacked down the right and crossed to the back post, where the forward had pulled away from his marker for a tap in (O'Brien had been drawn into the middle by the run of the CF and Hunt was chasing back from upfield).

Before the game, I thought a heavy defeat was on the cards. That's what happened.

I think that with a few minor tweaks, we can turn this around. Not to be promotion contenders perhaps, but to finish comfortably in mid table and potentially flirt with the playoffs.

What are the tweaks?

1. Mix it up a little when the keeper has the ball. Caddis talked about starting off games sowing a seed of doubt by turning the defenders - Put the ball in behind them and chase. He talked about 'earning the right' to play out from the back. The more direct approach at the start of the game stops the opposition from pressing so hard in midfield as they need to drop off to help cover the defence.

2. Return of Reed and Payne to the midfield. We need them to come back in to both an urgency and creativity. We have had none of that in the last 3-4 games at least. Payne has been a big loss.

3. East is going to need to step up to play the Lyden/Grant role to help Reed create and Payne to run free. He's done it in short spells, but hasn't been able to do it for 45 mins.

4. Conroy's head and achilles. We need both to be fixed. As PV mentioned, playing in a Ross MacLaren role just ahead of the back 3 might be appropriate at times. I hate to say it, but he looks the most self assured when playing the ball out from the back - Baudry is similar, but I think has more mistakes in him. Last night I was struck at how nervy we looked playing out from the back. Cooper has made a great start with us, but came up with a howler for their first. After that, his confidence was shot. O'Brien defended very well in open play, but looked nervous at times. His wrestling and giving away the penalty was a sign of that.

5. Williams (when fit again) needs to be an impact sub. Barry (although difficult to judge so far) is probably the same. We need to get Davison to create space for others rather than looking for space for himself - He is a downgrade on Simpson. I would have been happy with him as someone to come on for 20 mins for Simpson when the job was done or for longer on the occasions where Simpson was having a mare. We need another player 'like' Theo Robinson, Alex Revell or Emile Heskey who work hard for the team rather than set the world alight themselves.

6. Closing out games. We need to find that balance that enables you to get 'that second goal' and not invite pressure and lose as per versus Exeter. Break things up, but still offer a threat, rather than sitting back and getting overrun in midfield.

Do all of that and we're golden!

But the embargo isn't the problem.  Our budget is above average for the league.  Of course it would be bigger if we had no restrictions but there are plenty of other debts to pay off too.

The issue is not financial, but on the field where we play a one dimensional approach that is easy to play against.   Highlighted by the fact that we only score good goals but concede mainly soft ones.  
At this stage of the season there is no point in spending loads of money to get in a few unfit free agents, what we need is a more pragmatic approach to move the percentages towards us and give the players some belief.

Not scoring many but conceding soft goals every game must be demoralising and without adapting at all, a downward spiral becomes inevitable.

I've slept on it, and I've come to the conclusion that with the players available what did we really expect ?

With Reed and Payne coming back then that's us as a force. Payne will be rusty for a bit of course. We simply aren't strong enough and too reliant on key players being at 100% week in week out.

Season is over in my head, and any change of fortunes will be an extremely welcome shock . A big one

the only plus from yesterday was Aguilar and Parsons getting a run.

Last night was terrible and BG clearly not the finished article as boss. However, in the cold light of day, the lads don't help him out at times.....Cooper passing to Hemmings on 5 mins under no pressure, Davison missing a sitter at 1-0, KKH first touch vs Barrow for their second, Lyden pen vs Crawley, Akin flying in for the pen at Mansfield etc, the third goal at Mansfield,
Conroy and Reed red cards etc...

I know the manager needs to take some stick for the broad culture/playing style if things aren't going well repeatedly but not sure how he legislates for a Wales U21 international channeling his inner Taylor Curran five minutes into a tough away game.

On another note, why were the police having discussions in the away end last night? Making people sit down? I was in the Johnny King stand with a Tranmere mate so couldn't get a grip on it.

Should have been 1-0 down in the first minute.
The away end at Tranmere is one of the best views you can have watching a game.

Midfield so physically weak for a physical battle and Tranmere never allowed us to settle.
Back line whilst can play from left to right, right to left when you have nothing in front of you its so obvious the ball is going to be won and coming back.
JML is an academy player, physically not ready and that last night won’t be a good experience, just don’t see it.
McKirdy shocking, falling over and diving at every opportunity.
So disjointed up top but the midfield as everyone keeps banging on about is poor, no leaders, no movement and not capable for a physical league two battle.
Recruitment this January we have lost an opportunity.

Tranmere keeper won’t have an easier game all season.

Need Conroy, Reed and Payne back for for confidence and quality.
However we have not addressed the biggest issue of them all, no physical presence in the middle of the park.

As if we needed anymore shite, with a small diversion on the M6 on way home.

Worst performance of the season, offered nothing all night.

Agree with every single word apart from Conroy. I notice he is coincidentally injured again

My view on where we are… January shafted us. We had a great opportunity for an unexpected chance at promotion come the turn of the new year. We then lost our most attacking outlet (KKH) and our 2nd top goalscorer, as well as our best player (Payne) being injured. People say we’re now underperforming but who in the current squad is actually L1 standard? I’d say probably JJ and Payne. People could argue Williams but I haven’t actually been massively impressed with him, blows quite hot and cold. We have a back 5 who’ve hardly played a professional game between them and haven’t got a recognised experienced striker, for me that’s a squad that’s not good enough to get promoted. I wouldn’t mind for the rest of the season giving minutes to Aguir, Dabre and Parsons as for me the squad is now miles off top 3 and not good enough for top 7.

Hopefully short term.

Another gutless, gormless and absolutely spineless performance from us again.

we pulled plug on going last week but jheeze, to the couple hundred that went, fair fucking play, should get your money back.

Pointless talking about the game, its always the same things aint it? Simpson is a big, big loss. Davison had that one chance and its criminal he missed it, nobody should be missing from that close in unmarked. What else did he offer? Never seen McKirdy so quiet and out of the picture. Midfield just pathetic, full of nice ticci tacca passing players... Like Caddis said 'need someone who's not as crafty, to win ball and demand more', I know someone but he now plays for Scunthorpe. I don't care If he's not here anymore - BG picked east > AG all season, then when AG leaves, he uses left back Iandolo over East, the latter being our single fit defensive midfielder...?

Mitchell Lawson a rabbit in headlights. Hunt as captain is embarrassing, nearly as bad as letting Curran have the armband in pre season games gone by. Louie Barry? 3 games in and he's on the bench... why are January signings on the bench. For what its worth the two Times I've seen him he looks really lightweight but this is a recruitment fuck up- nothing else.

The more you look at it, and I know a couple have mentioned already, this isn't a Conroy issue, or now a Cooper issue, its 'garner ball' that's absolutely killing these players. Conroys taken shit all season (been harsh on him myself) but look what he's being asked to do, its ridiculous. Yeah, he's not been in great form and has been rather poor (passing aside) at times and I still stand by I don't think he's the right captain, but he's been made a proper scapegoat to all garners failings. When we take a loss, which player is first to get the blame? Conroy, AK and Iandolo (barring his 4 game run of attacking brilliance) all had better seasons and looked better in a shocking league 1 side last season.... this shouldn't be a thing. Cooper and Tomlinson come with championship game time this season, both very highly rated by parent club and their fanbases, both have looked quality in parts, but in back to back games both have been caught out on ball with this kamikaze style of play leading to goals. This squad of players at the start of season should of been competing in the top 3 with ease for me, littered with league 1 quality.

I'd understand If we started slow and picked up, wouldn't have an issue. But we didn't, we are tailing off, fading fast and being sussed out by other teams with absolute ease. Teams aren't sticking on masterclasses against us, its all very easy for them. We now look like an academy team who cannot handle the men in the basement of football.

Firmly in the garner out camp.

Agree - mid season rebuild.
Got relatively lucky first half of the season with not many injuries.

Now exploiting lack of depth and lack of game time.

One eye for me now on the pre season where I am expecting a different approach from the Board - no excuses.

Duke you go home and away most weeks, and I respect your opinion but I do not for the life of me see how you can rate Conroy so highly. He’s been poor for weeks, can barely move due to his injuries and makes a mistake a game.
Who would you drop from the back 3 to fit him in?

Agree with the points raised by DoB and JoeMezz.

What was a strength early on in the season, our central midfield of Payne, Reed and the Gladwin/Williams job share backed up by Lyden, East and Grant is now a massive weakness through injury (Payne/Lyden and now Williams), stupidity (Reed sending off and the decision to sell Grant) and seeming loss of confidence in East. Consequently, the defence have nowhere to play the ball because there is nothing in front of them.

The season is going to peter out as far as I am concerned. Until we get at least Payne and Reed back, plan A isn't going to work. Even with them back I am not convinced we have the personnel to change it much anyway so there won't be a plan B or C, just tweaks.  One thing Garner can do is stamp out the pathetic diving  and dissent.

This annoys the fuck out of me, Williams, McKirdy, JML and previously KKH and Payne all seem to dive to the ground under the slightest challenge, often in a great position too.

The dissent needs stamping out too as it will cost us players as the season progresses and bookings build up.

Will we still be debt free in the summer? I know the embargo will be lifted but I presume we’ll still be trying to pay off debt…

Clem Morfuni must  realise and understand the Honeymoon period is all but over.
That said he must be able to see the loyal support the club can expect from STFC winning more than losing
Now Clem, don't do a Power. Continue the good work shown to date. Try and get some genuine Investors if you don't have the funds yourself and just possibly its not to late to right this season off just yet
Over to you Clem

I really want Garner to succeed, when we get it right we are very good but teams have now sussed us out and we do not look like we have the answer at all.

The experienced players are really letting us down at the moment tbh and need to start setting a better example as well. The players we have available to us means we can't play the system we keep insisting on playing so he has to change the style or at least formation. Why we play 2 wing wacks with hunt is a real mind fuck for me it just defeats the object.

Probably get pelters for this but we absolutely bottled last night from the 1st minute when they hit a few players and Williams could not get off the pitch quick enough.

Finally imagine Ryan East sat on the bench knowing our midfield is depleted like that and not getting a start and then seeing Mitchel lawson and the other lad coming on for him instead. Really strange subs  

On yesterday's showing none of them have exactly cemented their place.   Conroy needs to get fully fit, but I think the whole back line is suffering with a lack of confidence and experience.   The mistakes yesterday were just as bad as any others made this season, so doesn't matter who we play, the soft goals will continue until we change the high risk approach that we currently employ.

Yeah I think the general consensus is less ‘Garner Out’ and more ‘Garner please improve’

The club wanted to go in a certain direction and Garner is good for that. We just need to put more focus on winning than style.

As I’ve said before the whole world of STFC isn’t going to cave it if we play ugly for 15 minutes to see a game out. Club aren’t going to refused to loan us players because we play ugly for 15 minutes to win.

Tough call but would have him at the Centre of defence. Best passer of the ball at the back.
O’Brien and Cooper either side, but would it be fair dropping AK probably not.
Cooper looked a little of the pace last last, but again no real issues.
Made me smile mind, got punished last night, dreadful error if that would have been Conroy I think you would agree there would have been a monumental meltdown.

Still don’t believe our biggest issue though is our defence, some may disagree.
Our midfield and front line for me. No depth and massive voids lacking and we haven’t recruited to fill.

Is it not linked to some frustration coming form the touchline?

You're not wrong here at all, but I don't think it's particularly unreasonable to have different expectations from the 26 year-old club captain who has been at the club for five years (admittedly with long term injuries) and played 100 games to a 22 year-old loanee playing his second game for the club.

Perhaps it isn't fair, but on paper Conroy should be in the top three players at the club (with Payne + Williams), and crucial to the way we play. He's not been half as bad as people make out, but he also wouldn't be in the conversation for player of the season at the moment. I think a lot of the frustration comes from feeling that he could and should be better than he's shown this season.

We badly lack width and don't score from crosses/set prices enough. I won't single players out but our right side offers next to nothing going forwards in recent games. Left side marginally better. I think at league 2 level you do need to force errors by getting the ball into danger areas. You can't pass your way through all the time. The lack of options for the defenders who have the ball and are looking to give it is so obvious. They're looking to give it and there's little on.

Scunny won their match last night, against Walsall, with only 10 men from the 53rd minute, with A Grant making the most tackles on the pitch  :suicide:

Things haven't felt quite right on the pitch for some time now. There are obvious factors that haven't helped, losing KKH and Simpson have been absolutely critical in my eyes. KKH wasn't amazing, or even that consistent but his pace and trickery on the right gave defenders something to think about. Rob Hunt is a capable Right back, but he's never going to burst past players and so is really easy to defend against as he's going to have to cut back and play the ball backwards. McKirdy and Simpson had formed a superb partnership and having to replace Simpson with what looks like a not particularly fit Davison has totally hampered things. McKirdy now is a shadow of the player he was.

The centre backs we have now are all composed ball playing defenders but unfortunately given the whole side is hugely lacking in confidence, are making mistakes game after game. Cooper was culpable on Saturday for Exeter's second goal and his mistake after 5 minutes last night was criminal also. We had been lucky with injuries first half of the season but that luck appears to have run out with Conroy, Lyden, Payne and now Williams injured. (and Reed's senseless suspension) We don't have a very big squad at all so these injuries have affected us hugely. Jack Payne for me has been massively missed.

The next 3 games are huge for Garner. We got absolutely schooled last night by a team that just got the basics right. The way we play is much more complex and when we get it wrong, it looks awful. I think if we don't pick up at least 7 points from the next 3 Garner is going to be in trouble. That said, Clem sees this as a long term project and unless he loses every game from now I don't think he'll be doing any sacking soon.

On a side note.

Our Supporters class last night.
Celebrating the life of little Nate Gidman. Only the gods would have allowed their team to score during the celebration.
Majority of our fans continued in celebrating his life, some things in life more important.

Anyway messages apparently from Tranmere pointing this out and reliability informed his Dad sending a message to Swindon respecting our class.

Bloody moving that was standing next to the tributes outside the ground.
RIP little Man 🙏

Agree with this and has been caused by a mix of bad luck and poor judgement by both the management team and players. Bad luck in the sense of Payne getting injured and Simpson/KKH being recalled. Poor judgement in not replacing KKH with an attacking right wing back, which is absolutely essential to how we play and also not replacing Simpson with 2 similar options, in case of injury. Garner in seemingly being unable (blame therefore goes back to recruitment) or unprepared (too stubborn) to adapt the playing style and also playing Iandolo as a central midfielder ahead of East. Poor judgement by Reed getting needlessly sent off and missing 2 very important games, when he could have been hugely influential and the whole team for conceding a last minute goal against 9 man Colchester.

What was most concerning for me last night was how fragile both physically and mentally our players appeared compared to Tranmere. We never looked like mounting an attack let alone scoring and after about an hour looked absolutely knackered, whilst at the start of the season we got stronger as the games progressed. For the most part it was was men against boys and we desparately need 3 points on Saturday even if it's a hard fought 1-0 win. Prove we are up for the battle and show some desire to do the ugly stuff as well as the pretty stuff. Crucially we also need to move the ball quicker, so some of the backwards and sideways passing may have to be sacrificed. Get balls in to the box for Davison and McKirdy to attack. With Payne and Reed back at least Garner can change it up a bit. Hunt is not a wing back so if Garner sticks with a back 5, then Tomlinson should play on the right and Iandolo on the left.  Otherwise if playing an orthodox back 4, then Hunt plays on the right and either Iandolo or Tomlinson  on the left with the other deployed as effectively an attacking left midfielder. Reed, Gladwin and Payne as middle 3 (or Payne wide right if playing a back 4) and Mckirdy plus Davison up top.

Fail to win Saturday and the natives will be restless, any lingering play off hopes would likely have evaporated and the pressure on Garner will intensify. Get 3 points against Scunny with  3 very winnable games coming up, Carlisle away,  Walsall home and Salford home. 12 points from the next 4 games and the landscape will look very different.

I think the statement “we got schooled by a team that got the basics right” hits the nail on the head.

Teams don’t have to be outstanding, or even very good, to beat us just do the basics right.

We, on the other hand, have to play well to win games and with Lower league players that’s not going to happen consistently.

This is where Garner needs to earn his money, try and find a style that compliments the players we have without having to revert to just blindly hoofing it.

If he can do that then all good, if not then you have to question whether he has a long term future

Agreed with the rest of the post, but this was harsh.

As bad as Conroy has been in the past 3 or 4 games, it's no coincidence that the team has reverted to the longer ball game in the last few matches, that and the fact that Reed wasn't available to recieve short passes out of defence.

I don't necessarily disagree that it was time for Conroy to drop out of the team for a while, but to continue try to play in the same way without Conroy and Reed in the team is asking for trouble.  Point in case, trying to pass GK's out of the area last night with 2 CB's sitting back in the area to recieve the ball is bonkers.  Last night proved that we don't have the personel to be able to do that, receive the ball, relax, and pass your way out.  Therefore we revert to the longer pass, which bypassed the midfield and didn't stick with our frontline.

Some on here will mock you for thinking letting him go was a bad decision though.

This also got me thinking about leaders in our squad, and the lack of them. Obviously Dion is club captain (but I don't necessarily think he is a leader) but who else in the squad would we actually consider as a leader? I'm struggling as I go down the list of players as who you would pick as players that can drag the team out of the doldrums. Jack Payne maybe? Grant was the obvious choice before he fell out of favour but we just don't seem to have anyone that wants to take games by the scruff of the neck. I certainly don't think Rob Hunt is captain material fwiw.

Glad someone agrees  :D,

Possibly it is harsh, but Hunt himself I feel would say its not a gig he'd want or put himself up for.

As said many times by others, we defo are lacking leaders. Wellens side had Mcormick, Baudry, Caddis, Doughty, Rose, Doyle - all winners.

Dare I say we might see Baudry come back in at some point…an experienced head at the back.

Wouldn’t be against this at all…

Don’t think he’s gonna be close to the player he was 19/20, but I’d certainly understand if he was reintroduced.

Yeah, as sick as people are of hearing it. Grant was the one. Rob Hunt is one of the better choices and isn't captain material.

O'Brien has all the makings of a captain but he's young and you can't give it to a loan player, it wouldn't be right.

The sign of a good team is one with a good 5 or 6 choices for captain and we don't seem to have any good choices.

Against popular opinion, i wasn't overly a fan of him even then.

The Grant discussion is pointless, unless I am the only one that sees that Garner is NEVER going to bring in or use players like him.  Players with experience and big characters who have seen it and done it at League 2 level, or League 1, are not what he will want.  They are not going to do as they are told.  Garners styles requires everyone to buy in and do it the team way.

On that style - his undoing is two fold for me.  First, you are asking inexperienced players to play a risky way.  Last night showed to me that Conroy's failings are more down to the team ethic than an individual.  He has one of the highest passing %'s in the league, by design.  The problem with that is the 10% that go astray are not medium passes forwards or long punts to nobody or into the channels like most defenders will do at this level.  No, they are crossfield passes, or short ones into a dropping midfielder.  They are risky and create easy possession in our half - so they look terrible.  The evidence for me is Cooper last night.  Same problem.  You put a player under pressure at this level doing what you have asked them to do, and it will create trouble.  We may get 60% possession, but the 30-40% the other team gets is not in their defensive third.

Second issue is pressure.  I will use Man City as an example because, not surprisingly, very few teams at our level try and play this way.  Man City score because their possession creates pressure.  Not always, but they build up that possession or they move defenders and midfielders into uncomfortable positions or tire them.  Earlier in the season we could achieve the League Two version of this at times - Reed connected the midfield to the passing defenders.  Simpson, even if not performing, made defenders worry.  KKH didn't have huge end product, but he scared the shit out of left sided players, often finding he would attract two.  I'm not a massive fan of Payne above this level, because he plays like a school kid and exhausts himself while leaving his station too often.  At this level though he tires out the other teams midfield.

All of those factors meant we created pressure in the minds and physically of the opposition players.  The past couple of months, with those players missing, we create very limited amounts of pressure.  Our passing is predictable.  Nobody is turning the defenders, nobody is dragging midfielders away from their defenders.  Teams have two options of how to deal with us - let us pass around until we make a mistake, or put a higher press on us and force us to play longer.  Either way we do not create any sustained pressure on them.

Reed and Payne returning will help, but we have not replaced Simpson and KKH.  It won't be enough if we insist on continuing this way.  Garner has to find a Plan B and quickly.  If he doesn't, he will just confirm my opinion of his long term chances as a Manager.

Our game is possession based and take your best two passes of the ball out of the side and you get the result.

If this is true then its even more damning than I thought.

And could be the sword he eventually falls on if that's the case.

I know it feels like a long time ago, but Grant was re-signed in the summer under Garner and started the first 5 games. That hardly fits with not wanting players like him and never going to play them. It fits perfectly with a fallout at some point over the international call-ups.

Agreed 100%

I've just seen the highlights. What a shit show that was. The first goal actually made me laugh, how a professional footballer could get caught on the ball like that is criminal.
Pretty football? If that's pretty then my pricks a bloater.
I'm now fully ensconced in Luke Warm territory. All my relief and goodwill after Pee Lower was  driven out has now evaporated. Clem and Garner finally extinguished the light that was my love for the club.
I'll still go to the odd away day, you can't beat an odd away day even with crap football and I'll still use the remainder of my season ticket because I do enjoy a laugh but no more than that,
Fourth division footballers playing pretty football, give me a break

With all due respect and I could be way off the mark here, but you don't particularly sound like you enjoy a laugh.

Oh yes he does.

Watch out, hes behind you!

Christ alive, I have only just worked out what you two are going on about! Talk about slow!

I went to the game.

I had the luxury of staying oop north with work and only had an hours drive to get to hotel after i left but i felt for the poor fuckers who witnessed that and then had to get back to Wiltshire.

Fucking awful.

Usual defensive fuck up (its getting boring now) but that was after a miss from Tranmere.

Started badly and faded and just got worse as the game went on.

Tranmere are handy although you can see they struggle up front (they really should of had more). They know when and where to foul and played a high press and once again we crumbled.

Glad Garner apologised the next day....it was deserved.

Special mention to the Scouse coppers who tried to make a mountain out of an M n M with a few young lads at the back.

Puts massive pressure on us to beat Scunny tomorrow.

Garners honeymoon is over and a few more displays like that and fans will get on his back, even taking Pre Season position into consideration.

It was painful

2 fa charges on us from this then
  - failure to ensure players/officials conduct themselves in orderly fashion (84th minute)
- Scott Marshall - improper conduct

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2022/february/fa-statement-in-wake-of-tranmere-v-town/

Anybody who went recognise themselves

I’ve spotted myself with Wobbly Bob and a couple of mates.

I thought a few would recognise themselves😀

Dukey is that you to the right of the goal with the Swindon on tour flag?

I've only missed a handful of games all season, home and away, and totally sympathise.   Very early on many of us were concerned when we saw the first Luke Williams style goal kick. A goal kick that only Swindon have ever done with any regularity.  In div 4 it's clueless, for the sake of it, football.

However we signed some good players, looked pretty good most of the time and confidence was high.
The thing is, perfect and very risky, (almost suicidal level at times) only works with confidence, once that goes the balance of risk quickly becomes apparent (apart from to the manager obviously), results take a nosedive and it's very hard to turnaround.

This year was an opportunity to grab the fans, like yourself, who really, really want to go to the games, but only on the basis that it isn't dull as fuck and pointless.   Unfortunately, at home especially, it's been relegation form and a missed opportunity.

Yes I'm pleased to be watching football and grateful to everyone who played a part in saving our club, but on the field I'm disappointed, beyond belief, with the bulk of the performances over the last couple of months.  It's criminal that such goodwill has been squandered with such obvious weaknesses not being addressed. 

A manager's primary focus must be on points, noone complains about having boring 2-0 wins every week.   Losing valiantly every week because of a shit ref or drawing against 9 men, or even getting merrily shat on just doesn't float anyone's boat.

Yes our flag far right at front and my lad and myself back row right behind goal in the bastard dark.
The flag Next showing Carlisle.

Done the lot this season and intend to get my lad through his first full season home and away.
Sadly I think in all honesty the “situation” we find ourselves in has caught up with us.

Start of the season, well a few weeks before we all would have settled for where we are right now, sadly it’s always the hope that kills us all, every club.
If anything we have lost that bonus momentum that we initially grabbed by the bollocks. Our crowds, more so our support away from home impressive.
Being a Pompey lad at heart, always critical of our apathetic fans making excuse why not to go rather than support it, I understand as this season they have showed up in decent numbers.
This season to me was all about survival, a free hit. Now that is becoming a successful reality.

If the Board don’t show commitment next season then the crowd will turn. In all honesty I think they will. All kinds of Debts were coming in and confident apart from the pending EFL hearing would like to think we are now as stable as we have been for many years.

Love this bastard club, runs through my veins and will keep going.
Understand why some feel frustrated but it’s not just 90 minutes on a Saturday for me, much deeper.

I'll be there next year too, was even there when Douglas scored.  Football is at its best bringing people together, a few beers before and after the game with mates is priceless.  A weekend away with the family somewhere where you would normally not choose to go, it's amazing.

We all accept it's been a tough season to manage Swindon.  I just want individuals to acknowledge their errors and learn from the mistakes.   Saying the way we play isn't risky beggars belief.  The discipline too has been shocking.

We need a bit of pragmatism and to try to earn the right to play.  So that the crowd can get behind the team and the defence can feel a bit less pressurised to be perfect.   Cut out the 40 yard backwards long throws, and the 5 yard goal kicks - what are they ever going to achieve?

Spot on Mate.
Not saying Garner moving forward right now is the right answer, that one of opinion and choice.
Straight choice between him and Wellens? Wellens would get my vote.
Garner to me is a coach and not a Manager.

I find both Garner and Wellens very very similar

Wellens will have definitely picked up a few things in a 17 year nearly 700 game club career than Garner will have not.

I’m not even going to try and count how many different managers Wellens would have played under in that time.

If anything the two would probably mesh together really well as a joint management team. Although probably both two pig headed and stubborn to co-exist…

Interesting. In what sense, if you don’t mind me asking?

I found wellens football to be a lot more aggressive and quicker (even at the end of the 18-19 season). Also wasn’t afraid to mix it up and use Woolery as a long ball outlet. Think garner is gonna keep trying O’Brien for this though.

Also found and saw wellens to be abit more of a presence, garner, for me, has no presence. I’m not sure the players fear him enough.

Agree hence my reference to a coach and not a Manager.
Just can’t imagine Garner losing it in the dressing room.

Don't need to be feared, respected yes.  Shouting and throwing toys just doesn't work anymore, but making decisions that are respected does.   How can the players possibly believe in the slow tippy tappy crap around there own box when it more often than not puts them under pressure.   It doesn't matter how loud or often you shout at someone that the earth is flat, it doesn't mean that they will believe you.

Not after someone to throw toys outta pram and scream and shout, just want more of a presence and a leader.

Need someone who’s ballsy and brave enough to see that, as you say, not changing from tippy tappa ticci tacca every single week isn’t us being brave, stubborn and sticking to what we believe in- it’s just daft.

I meant more in how their STFC careers have gone. When they had the players the style of football they both want to play really worked well but when the better players were not there they are both unable to get the best out of the average players and reluctant to change their philosophies it seems