Thetownend.com

We will win, and I will have to start the match day threads forever more.

Thanks Quaggy! Fascinated to see how we are likely to line-up tomorrow.

For those concerned about our lack of attacking prowess so far this season, the below video from our opponents tomorrow raised a wry smile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SkzukiqRI0

Team wise - I’d go with.

                           Brynn

Lavinier.  MacDonald.  Clayton.  Blake-Tracy
 
                            Reed

                    Khan.    Gladwin

          Darcy.      Jephcott.     Wakeling    

Gillingham 0 Swindon 1 Att: 3,890 (650 Town fans)

I still can’t see videos on my phone when they’re posted… Mods?

They haven't scored for 4 games.

Why is it always us.

Probably this. Not sure whether I’d rather have Williams legs in over Gladwins ability though.

Would the two new signings be match fit as we're often told fitness is key🤔

Agree DV. Williams over Gladwin any day. IF that's the choice but don't get the"not both" argument tbh.For some reason I am unable to "quote". Anyone else?

Quote is fine but it does randomly disappear every few weeks for the odd day.

Think we may go with a diamond 4 & 2 up top.

I can on the laptop but not on my mobile.

Not a place that tends to be a happy hunting ground for us, but hopefully with their poor form that changes tomorrow.

Creativity remains a concern for me but hopefully some players will step up. Now the squad is done this is the first of half a dozen games for Lindsey to prove is the right man to mould this squad. If we are still struggling for wins after that then some decisions will need to be made.

I've seen Town play at Gillingham eight times since moving to Kent. 3 draws and 5 defeats but one of the draws was that which sent them down. Aljofree. The other draw was when their keeper threw in a last minute equaliser! Our team that day was a cracker on paper! Foderingham,N.Thompson,Turnbull,Branco, Byrne,Gladwin,Luongo Kasim, Brad Smith,Michael Smith and Williams

But have they not signed new players??,  they maybe thinking the same about us.

IIRC, the last time we played at their gaff a certain Taylor Curran started and gave them a couple of goals.

They just signed a couple of defenders

An easy 3-0 away win.

Does anyone know about tickets for tomorrow? I called our ticket office, who said they weren't selling them and I had to go through a link on our website, to buy from Gillingham. I can't see anything. I called Gillingham, and their ticket office number goes through to someone's mobile voicemail!

Can we definitely pay on the gate? Our ticket office said "we think so"!

Edit: You have to buy online in advance, but you have to go looking for it on the website: https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2022/august/ticket-information-for-gillingham/

0-0 in front of 4,889 with 905 Town there.

Brynn MotM again.

Jills havent scored a goal in the last 6 games, and have failed to score in 7 of their 9 games this season, scoring only 3 goals. 2 at Wimbledon in the EFL Cup and 1 goal in all league games in their only win, a 1-0 home win vs Rochdale. They have however conceded 11 goals in all games.

In their 6 league games they have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 4, scoring 1 goal and conceding 8 times. LWLLDL.

Their only deadline day deals were to bring in CB/RB defender Haji Mnoga from Pompey on loan and re sign defender Robbie McKenzie who they released in the Summer.

They've only beaten Rochdale, how tinp...

ooh, what's that over there

Indeed, but they only scored 1 goal against them!......

That goal against Rochdale was in the 8th minute so (if my rudimentary maths is accurate) that's 532 minutes without a league goal. I'd like to think against what is clearly a fragile Gills side with the extra attacking options we should be able to walk away with the 3 points and hopefully a clean sheet to boot.

On the Jills forum they are suggesting that they have the weakest strike force in L2.

The goals tally would also suggest that too being the lowest scorers in the top 7 divisons.

I know that there were a few of our fans concerned about transfer activity prior to yesterday, triggered by the McKirdy loss, but for them to go into Transfer Deadline Day having scored only 1 league goal all season and only bring in 2 defenders on loan has got to smart doesn't it?

Indeed!

Less think
Stupid more

Does not make sense, now watch them get 5 against us tomorrow!

ugh, don't say that, it's happened before!

Sods law,  bound to score tomorrow then.

Got to go back to the 80's to find the last time we won at Gillingham..  about time we fixed that stat..

All I can say is I am glad my Dad no longer has the capacity to keep up with the goings on at Priestfield.

My support of Swindon is the thing that really disappoints him about me.

My 3 trips to Gillingham have ended L1-0, L3-0, D0-0

The good news is, I'm not going tomorrow 😉

I like the look of this and can easily be switched to a diamond with Darcy going in the CAM spot

Just seen this post, ignore last message.

Spank the gills 8-0.

Finish season on record points and goals scored.

Within 4 years Jephcott and Wakeling are playing for England and we're in the Prem.

Easy peasy.

Dr Freud, Dr Freud, Calling Dr Freud to the white courtesy telephone.

I'm think I'll go for a more realistic prediction.

6 will do.

(1-2 and a second win for us)

They can't lock me up if they can't catch me.

Realistically I'll be happy with a 2-1 win. I don't expect the world to change immediately after the transfer window. Do dislike Gillingham, mostly because it shares the name of a much better place in Dorset and so taints it by association.

It’s got banana skin written all over it. Hopefully we can muster a good, winning performance including a goal or two from some of our new acquisitions. Any idea how many we have sold for this?

                            Brynn

Lavinier.  MacDonald.  Clayton.  Blake-Tracy
 
                            Reed

                    Khan.    Gladwin

                          Williams

                   Wakeling  Jephcott


Would be mine

The 3-0 was the only time I've seen us vs Gillingham, home or away.  There was an army of 1970s hoolies out that day.  This was nearly 20 yrs ago, so most are probably in retirement homes now.  I'll be interested to hear whether the locals care about us as much these days.

we'd have won with McKirdy.

getting it in early, and yes - he was suspended anyway

Ah. The old Saga Tour game.

Didn’t realise that had been quite that stingy in front of goal. Just about guaranteed to score to score then.

I will go for a 1-2 win and a bit of post window feel god factor to keep into the fan base.

COYR

Ohh yes they do.

Would be a lot better providing MacDonald starts to up his game. I'd be tempted to put Darcy over Gladwin but he may be better as impact sub.

Will be my last in person game for at least 6 weeks, hoping to do one or two more in early November before work starts full on for the winter in France, really looking forward to it, would be great to see LJ bag on his debut and come away with a win there for once.

This game brings back many memorable games from those late 70’s and 80’s epics.
After those late 70’s battles I recall one particular away trip to Priestfield where we lost 1-0.
Early 80’s and it was like everyone in Gillingham came out in force.

Arrived by train and hardly any Swindon had made the trip. No colours but notable that gangs were out in force looking for Swindon fans.
In the away end Gillingham fans were in there and a few battles ensued before they left. The walk back to the station was just as bad but made it unscathed under darkness.

Some of those games that followed at Swindon were superbly supported by Swindon fans.
Masses gathered on the Bank and the TE. Still remember the belting out Of Nightboat to Cairo, Madness and the Harringtons and Black DM’s in full dance.

Some games against the Gills.
The 3-1 win in the late 70’s even shading that Selhurst Park win for me.
The TE that day simply deafening.

The only time I went in the away end at the county ground was against Gillingham in the early 80s, we win 3-0 & Animal scored in the first 5 mins & it kicked off.

2-0 home win

Att: 4,069

MoM: FBT

New players out to prove that themselves,  comfortable 2-0 win to the town.

Wonder if the new signings are likely to play today. I’d hope to see the new RB start plus Jephcott. Darcy is a must start - probably at the expense of Gladwin or Williams which is a tough call. It’d be Williams for me, Gladwin has been good this season. Shade deserves a go in the McKirdy role.

Brynn
Tim Brooke-Taylor McDonald Clayton Lavinier
Reed Gladwin Darcy
Shade Jephcott Wakeling

We have a lot of options now.

Reading on their website they're still very bitter. It's about time them that we turned them over properly in their own back garden. 3-1 Town but would love to keep a clean sheet

Just win to hopefully shut up the whinging cunts on FB.

For those travelling today just me mindful of the surrounds.
Always expect a little welcoming party and a friendly walk away from the ground.

They still hold a grudge 😂

And best not mention Ray Mchale!

Pre match touting for driveway & patio work in The Golden Lion.

Fuelling in Rochester to start, a pity that the castle was the other way, then a walk to Chatham where the historic dockyard is also out of range. Then finally into the heart of darkness.
An odyssey through prime Charlton supporting country, probably not worthy of a Joseph Conrad novel in this case.

This fixture is a classic example of irrational football fan grudge bearing, going all the way back to incidents in games more than 40 years ago.
The dislike is largely one sided though & must have been passed down from parents to kids. Fascinating.

Wonder what Town fans would have made of having the Gillingham chairman in charge for so many years.
A divisive figure I suspect, but no call for somebody to have to step back from their job due to abuse.

Personal record here is one win in 7 visits & that was in Dec 1986.
A more relevant stat is no wins in 9 visits since hostilities resumed in 2006.
This must be the worst away record against all of our long standing opponents.

We have a chance today, but then again always a case of who you gonna call when looking to end a poor run.

Anyway, keep a firm grip on the cheap high vis vests people, as we could witness a historic victory today.
Or possibly not...

Turn them over 0-3. Life after McKirdy begins and so does our season. Jephcott (2) and Wakeling.

I was at that game the day after Boxing day in 86, we took about 2,000 there. I have a 50% win rate at Priestfield after going there for the play off when we lost the same season.

Jills were 3rd and we were 7th and we won 3-1.

I have never been on the recieving end of so much crowd violence, abuse and trouble as that day, they were throwing bricks, glass bottles and washers (Pikeys couldnt afford coins) with their edges filed sharp at us from outside and inside the ground all game, they really hated us back then and I have no love lost for them too. That was the celery game when the Police confiscated about a truck load of celery from Town fans prior to KO.

Horrible set of fans and a horrible place to visit.

All because of the great Ray McHale in 79 (in front of a huge crowd), another of the most the most hate filled games I have ever witnessed on and off the pitch.

We owe them a thrashing.

I would probably go for this line up.

                            Brynn
Lavinier    MacDonald    Clayton     Blake-Tracy
                             Reed
                    Khan        Darcy
          Wakeling        Jephcott        Williams

Providing Lavinier is fit enough to start otherwise Brennan or Hutton at RB.

A pity that there doesn't appear to be any footage of the home game from 78-79 available.

That was before segregation on the Stratton Bank, but most of their lot were at the end of the Shrivvy Road with a fair few sprinkled across the bank.
Nasty & very mouthy fans from what I remember.

if a number of new signings are chucked in today i cant see this being a win

I like this line up. Don't really understand why some would leave out Williams after his overwhelming  vote as MOM last week. Just one thing,is Reed a shoe in on this season's performances so far?

Two new signings will and should start, 99% certain that will be it, Jephcott and Lavinier.

There have been 100 games between us and the Pikeys so far, we have won 36, Jills 34 and 30 have ended drawn. We have scored 141 times and they have scored 131 times.

Fairly well matched for so many games. Although we have only beaten them once in the last 11 meetings and we havent won there in the last 10 visits.

For me we look weaker going forwards without Williams, Darcy is on a bit of a run of form but looks far better in midfield. Jephcott is a certain started unless he is not fully fit.

Reed started terrible but has grown into his old self again in the last 3 games so probably has to start.

I went to Gillingham once

it was shit, we also got promoted

hopefully never again

I think that will be the line up except for Gladwin to start in place of Darcy

Probably Gladwin in front of Darcy I agree, but personally I would like to see Darcy start.

Snap. My only trip to the Gills. I can confirm it’s a shithole and I did want to come home.

Tempted to buy some lucky heather.

What? Hopefully never get promoted again?!!!!!

I agree put Darcy in.   Gladwin is like watching someone move in mud.  He does some nice things but is a liability when he can’t get back in the midfield.   

No disrespect to Gladwin but I’d to see us play a couple of matches without him just to see if makes us play a bit quicker, he still slows things down too much for me.

Agree on both these points.

Give Gladwin more freedom at the top end of the pitch, where he has less defensive responsibility and fewer consequences of losing the ball and you'll have a very good player on your hands.

I'd like to see him at the top of a diamond behind Wakeling and Jephcott. He has the ability to find both with a through ball. He also would get into more shooting positions.

It’s nice to have these options.

Looking at their start and window, compared to ours, we really should be winning this game.

It is great to be able to dsiscuss options rather than just going with what we have.

I would think the bench will probably be.

Brann, Baudry, Roberts, Shade, Brennan, Harries, Gladwin(Darcy/Khan/Aguiar/Hutton) any of which would work depending on starting line up.

Not for me, Gladwin isn’t good enough to need to be shoehorned into the team or have it set up around him.

He won't be shoehorned though. I'm almost certain we'll be playing a diamond this season and we need somebody to play at the tip of it.

Gladwin fits that profile. He's a threat from range, can spot a pass and it keeps him away from the half way line.

If we play 433 then it becomes more difficult for him.

If the manager insists on playing him I hope he takes your thoughts.  You maybe right and it could work.  Why not try it against a team that is struggling like fully today?   Get a lead and shift formation to it just to see.  Can always shift back.

Gladwin for me has looked much better this year. Back to his best; picking out passes and making things happen. He's the type of player that always 'looks' a bit lazy and languid; doesn't mean he is; its just how he plays.

They haven't forgotten about us!

https://forums.vitalfootball.co.uk/threads/swindon.126522/

33/1 for HMS Piss the League

He still slows things down to much, he’ll never be back to his best as he was actually pretty mobile in his first spell with us and used to make driving runs, he doesn’t have that sort of mobility now.

As I said it feels like he is being shoehorned into the the team to get him and Williams in the same XI and Gladwin isn’t good enough to justify this. I still don’t think there is room for both and would pick Williams over him all day long.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fbu4MMHWIAAhwJK?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

Can’t believe Darcy doesn’t start.

Strong bench, Jephcott must be down to fitness but Darcy deserves a starting slot. Would have liked to see Roberts on the bench tho too.

Not overly impressed with that line up, we lacked a focal point of our attack against Stockport and would have thought they’d want to get Jephcott to hit the ground running.

good to see that lots of new signings have not been shoe horned in for the sake of it

My muff mate says LJ is nowhere near fit when he has played this season so thats understandable really. Shade looked very lively in a free role on Tuesday so maybe its his chance to impress again.

What more does Darcy need to do to get a start after running the show on Tuesday ! Should've started ahead of Gladwin, or even Williams. Hope Jephcott gets an early substitute appearance as put a few quid on him for a debut goal !

In the Fleur de Lys. Full of Town and the mighty Fall on the juke box. Happy days

What's the formation gonna be?

That’s a bit of a worry in itself for me, no excuses for not keeping up fitness even if not starting. Hopefully that’s not part of the reason for his fall from grace at Muff.

                           Brynn
Lavinier    MacDonald    Clayton     Blake-Tracy
                             Reed
                    Khan        Gladwin
          Wakeling        Shade        Williams

Or swap Wakeling and Shade.

Shade owes us today in my opinion

If he carries on where he left off on Tuesday he could be a game winner today, playing in the free role.

Shame Roberts couldn't get on the bench.
No excuse not to win today

Jillys club song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOSZwEwl_1Q

Despite McKirdy’s departure a semblance of anticipation has returned to the fan base.

Don’t fuck it up Town.

The wheels on your house go round and round..

Wheres your caravan...where your caravan!

Ben Purkiss co-commentating, very posh sounding.

Hes fairly intelligent, he has done comms before and hes knowledgable.

Sounds decent and knows his stuff.

Wakeling started as the central striker so far.

MacDonald makes a poor clearance but the shot afterwards is at Brynn and an easy save.

MacDonalds makes another mistake and puts us under pressure again.

Khan wins the ball and finds Gladwin who beats his man but hits it wide from 20 yards.

Gladwin tries a pass to Wakeling but his pass is way over hit.

Brynns clearance is low and the jills striker wins it but luckily the shot is over the bar, chance for Jills missed.

On the radio it sounds like Gillingham are up for it

Jills are really pressing us high and doing it well.

Booking for the jills player for a foul on Gladwin.

MacDonald wins a good header against the big Mandron.

Plenty of mistakes so far

Very poor

MacDonald makes another mistake but gets back to block the shot.

Dirty pikeys :pint:

Red card for the jills player!

Wow!

Sent off on his debut!

So far he’s been really disappointing, miles below what I was expecting.

Red card for the pikeys, a must win now!

Only listening today, but it does not sound great.

...

Red card though, is that good for us?  ???

Wakeling was well past him as he cyncically fouls him, definate yellow.

Fuck me. We’re fucked now. Playing 10 men.

Playing against 10 men doesn't always go well...

Really fucking stupid foul by the Pompey loanee, he looked quick.

No excuses just get at the fuckers

Just what I was thinking.  

Fuck sake, they’ve got 10 men now - we are doomed

Reed with a fuck up to Brynn but Brynn saved him and us.

Reed needs to come off at half time

In the past playing against ten men would of been great. But just look what happened last week against Stockport.  :doh:

Khan has a shot from 20 yards well wide.

Purkiss suggesting Reed not quite at the races which surprises him

Find it odd we didn’t start Jephcott tbh

Lavinier has a shot but its blocked.

Fitness apparently.

Not sure that should really be an issue now with 5 subs

Gladwin easily pushed off the ball, poor.

Am listening on I follow radio. Does anyone know if I can switch  to away commentary to avoid the Kentish drone I’m currently being subjected to?

Purkiss is a revelation on co-comms, sign him up

Ref keen to give soft fouls

Wakeling cross blocked for a corner to Town, good move.

If you are listening on PC or tablet yes, click the cog and select which commentary you want.

Williams half volleys it from 20 yards but its blocked.

Agreed, very knowledgable and well spoken. Respect from me after he said he was in the pub before the game and how lively it was😀

Shade looked far better through the middle on Tuesday than out wide like he is today.

Lavinier passes to Shade but Shade wasnt ready and it goes into touch.

Lavinier reminds me a lot of KKH.

No sign of chemistry between the right sided players

On the radio it sounds like Gillingham have the upper hand

Brynn makes a save at his near post.

The Gillingham fans behind the goal seem to enjoy a wanker sign too much, probably been sniffing too much lucky heather

I think Lavinier is allowed that being only 20 mins into the first time he has played with Shade TBF.

Tarmac aroma on their hands from working the driveways😀

Hopefully on one of his good days...

Understandable, one only turned up yesterday

Nice deep cross from Lavinier but theres no striker in the box to head it.

Gilly is the team that wants to win so far    High energy and effort.

Hes very fit and quick and has quick feet and looks handy going forwards so far, not seen much defensively as yet though.

Lavinier looks decent at the moment

Reed being hurried all the time and not coping too well so far.

This has 0-0 written all over it

Ah, am listening on phone. Thanks anyway.

Gladwin dribbles past his man but his deep cross misses everyone.

Shade to Gladwin on the right and he puts in a good cross but its past Williams coming in at the back post. Too heavy.

If you are listening on the Ifollow App you should still be able to change - find a cog on the main screen, select Audio and change to Away

Had a lot of the ball. Done fuck all in the final third.

patience is a virtue

75% possession no shots on target

Lavinier has pushed up to more of a winger and Shade playing more centrally in a free role now.

Come on Shade, show us what you got!

This has 1-0 ten man smash and grab with 26% possession and one shot on target written all over it

Let's hope Lindsey can get more out of them

Town totally in control but with no killer edge in or around the box, Jills still dangerous on the break.

The radio is so deceiving

Lavinier with a fancy clearance off the side of his foot when it looked like he was going to hoof it upfield :D

Shade with a heavy pass to Lavinier when he should have done better.

1st run from Williams really too leading up to it.

Lindsey is not a manager, he needs demoting, asap

love that McDonald slide tackle. love it. (prob about 2 mins ago for you on ifollow)

Khan is the pick of our players so far for me.

Common trend

Shade needs subbing for me. Williams our main outlet atm

Williams sounding frustrating on the radio

Nice break by Gladwin but his pass is weak to Willo and cleared.

Williams flopping to the ground gets a bit tiresome after a while

I am a big fan of Williams but I thought hes been fairly poor for him so far.

That's how it comes across on the radio

Williams should have done better there

Good cross from Lavinier, great touch by Williams but he skys it over the bar from 8 yards.

Woeful defending

Jills hit the post with Brynn beaten.

Williams should have scored

Bad mistake by Lavienier there.

1 pass just undone us, that’s shocking!

If we can't beat a 10 man team as shit as Jill's then I give up.

Defensively it feels like a comical error could be made at any time

Better ball from Gladwin but its a touch high for Wakeling, another corner to Town.

The football intelligence seems very low by town atleast right now.  Especially in the back.  Put that on manager

can't disagree. Hopefully they will improve with games

2 mins added.

Another corner to Town.

Great cross from Gladwin to Williams but his header is saved, great chance and good move.

Reed shoots from 20 yards out and its 20 yards wide!

So based on some of the first half comments on here so far, Reed, Shade and Gladwin should all be subbed at half time along with the Manager being demoted.  We are 0-0 away against 10 men versus a side that we haven't beaten away for 36 years...  in a league 2 standard game which we are dominating but being let down in the final 3rd.

Some people views really do confuse the fuck out of me..

HT 0-0

No killer edge in the box.

boring, boring Swindon

Yep I would give Reed a rest

Well that was terrible viewing

If we can’t beat ten men or even get a shot on goal when have a man advantage for 80 mins says it all

Wonder if Lindsey has the tactical noise to manage the game and get a win?

Right Berniman I’ve had enough of that. YOUR DEMOTED

Six subs warming up at half time

Lindsey out. Woeful

That was poor. A massive 45 minutes in the managerial career of Lindsey coming up.

Got radio on, Jesus we sound awful.  :badmood:

Macdonald in an hour behind, they are down to ten men, we should be putting them to the sword.
Instead Gillingham are having the better chances.  :doh:

hmm passed well at times but never really threatened until the 45th minute.

look dodgy at back, levinier doing ok given first game

gills always going to pack defence but we don't seem to have the pace to pull them around

I fail to see what Shade is in the team for. Absolute waste of space so far. Reed has no right to expect to be picked every game and Williams is our best option for me so far.Against 10 Wakeling should have touched the ball far more than he has. I hate to say we look clueless. Darcy I would say is an absolute must for the second half.

Reed has looked very poor so far today again, Williams grew into the game after a pooor start, Gladwin has has some terrible passes but mixed with some sublime passes too, typical Gladwin.

Shade has disappointed me, almost every pass has been played backwards, Khan has looked excellent again today though.

Can't help but think that MacDonald is a fuck up waiting to happen though, but again at times he has also looked excellent.

Thats L2 though, some good, some bad, some very average, but thats why they ply their trade in L2.

The problem there is we have nobody in the squad that can play the Reed role, despite all these players (questionable recruitment?). Its been mentioned Aguiar can do it, but not a chance in hell from what i've seen of him, or when he replaced him in the last home game.

You have a choice with under performing players. Help them play their way back to form, or drop. Given lack of replacement, option 1 is only choice.

Macdonald continues to be a disappointment. Like many, I thought that he would be head and shoulders above everyone else right from the 'get go'. For a player with some higher league pedigree, he is more Grounds than Culverhouse.

Did the home side really have no clear cut chances?

Good point about Macdonald expected more with his experience and fitness can't be used as an excuse anymore.

Reed can’t even play the Reed role this season.

Last season the Reed role was to pass it back and forth between himself and Conroy and wank over the passing stats. Cant do that this season, we need him to actually play football and he can’t.

Could Darcy not play the Reed role?

I want to be made to eat my words.

What a crock of shit.  We are a bad team I am afraid to say.

Not just because this is so poor against 10, again, but because we just look clueless with little talent.  

I would also argue that Khan,Williams and Darcy could all fill the "Reed" role

Williams could do it

If we don't start well this half then I think Darcy and Jephcott should be introduced fairly soon.

Williams and Shade deserve mention for their utter absence.  Both are supposed to be supporting Wakeling and neither has been within 20 yards of him.

I expected that straight away to be honest. Why wait?

I think Reed is getting too much criticism. He's played some nice passes out but yet the odd fluff. Not unique.

Think Gladwin looks like the only player with a pass to unlock the defence myself.

Shade hasn't excelled, can't work out his best position.

so I think I'd replace him with Darcy, switch formation to 442 and try and get overloads down the wings. We are getting space there but never really getting in behind at pace.  Then it's set for Jephcott's winner

Lindsey still thinks shade will come good😀

Sloppy is the word used by comms

Wakeling down injured.

Its good everyone has different opinions, but none of those can do that holding role from what i have seen.

Reed has been poor individually this season, but i also think his position in the team ends up looking worse when the team around is poor. He needs options to pass to. A lot of his value was hitting cross fields balls after we created space, later in the season that was to McKirdy/Barry in the 433. At the moment we just don't create the space for it. We knock the ball around endlessly and dont seem to have a plan to create chances. Compare that to how Orient played against us and how easily they pulled players around.

For me at the moment the problem is squarely a coaching one. There is no real pattern of play and there is a lack of dynamism in the forward areas despite having picked most of our creative players. Williams is better breaking late, not as a front 3. Jury out on Shade there as well. Wakeling has done well so far. But that three compared to Barry/Mckirdy/Davison of last season is so far short of whats needed.

The first thing he has done this afternoon

Reed has no point in the team based on how we have played thid season.  We don't funnel through him anymore so he is not able to impact the game as a straight forward central midfielder.  We are wasting him based on what he can do.

Khan volley well over the bar after a knock down from Shade in the box.

Sad to see players go down at the slightest whiff of contact

It's autumn now the gloves will be on soon😀

Jephcott warming up, I think Wakeling will go off.

Radio makes it sound like Jills are all over us.

This is so poor.

This is like me conducting the London Philharmonic

Lindsey has to go

Jephcott on for Wakeling.

 :clap: :clap:

one of the scourges of modern day football

Wrong sub imo, should have moved Wakeling out wide

Assume he’s not ok after the bangs on the head

Mcdonald, shocking

bismillah! no. Sandro will not let you go

Come on Darcy

Darcy on for Khan, not the one I would have made.

All to slow.

Seems he doesn’t like dragging off a senior player

77% possession one shot on target

khan? really

they are making it difficult. we do seem to asserting a bit more pressure now

…ready for the jills to hit us on the counter

Highlight of the game so far :clap:

Poor from Shade

Is he a shadow of his former self?

It's not time for humour😀 We need to win our first away game of the season!

He is a stain, done nothing to say he is any good

This isnt very good is it

Our build up is just so slow and laboured, get the ball in the box asap.

I’m disappointed with the lack of creativity and bravery in the attack.  Why not try an early ball in the box and let the striker work for the goal.  Instead just ends up dribbling out the back.  Gilly has simply put worked Town the entire game. 
But still hoping for that sneaky goal!!

It's a bit meh at the moment

We beat the defender and then pull the ball back instead of getting in a shot or cross.

Be more direct and hope Jephcott can get onto a rebound and finish it.

Its been a bit meh all season. Despite Lindsey claiming after every game we played well and created plenty of chances.

We’re heading toward having played 90 minute of football against 10 men in the last 180 minutes and we’re been shit for the duration. I know people say 10 games, Christmas blah blah but we genuinely look awful and find it nearly impossible to create chances.

I’d almost say there is now sufficient evidence to say a change at least needs to be considered, certainly if we don’t score a late winner. Someone with a bit about them and a bit of nouse might actually be able to turn some of these draws into wins.

FBT contender for MoM

Last series was good got ball in quickly and kept hammering them.  Keep it up!

We've been getter better in every game apparently

FBT with a lovely header from the corner but Jephcott toe pokes it over the bar.

I've just got in, doesn't sound like I've missed a great deal.

Completely agree a decent manager would have us up the table

I'd go out again 😀

Need to practice our shooting. 1 on target today  :crash:

As mentioned above, mustn't lose sight of the fact that this is div 4 football.

Wait until we are told by Lindsey we created a lot.

Oooh Harry McKirdy, oooh Harry McKirdy

Shade 20 yarder curling in but is saved.

We couldn't beat an egg.
We couldn't beat ourselves.

I like the attempts to get ball in box more right now.  Wish we would have been doing that a half hour ago.   True other team clears it sometimes but sometimes opportunities happen.

One word for today: Pedestrian

Gills comms calling our passing pedestrian.

it is.

This is getting embarrassing. Ex lodger giving me shit about us not beating them. Jephcott to score the winner please…!

we did a shot

Not good when your CBs decide they need to take pot shots

We have up until this

I will be drinking heavily before the Newport game

put reading?

Only because we got to play Rochdale who had lost every game.

This is incredibly frustrating to watch! I cannot believe how slow we are moving the ball!

in the sea?

*passing

It's like me playing Subutteo

Get ready for it is harder to play against 10 men  :suicide:

Reed is gash

I’m curious if the players are not happy with this manager thus the effort is lower on the field.  We are just now playing like we are up a man.  Maybe players don’t respect current coach?

No, because we have got slightly better every game, until this.  Have we improved enough every game? No, but that doesn't change the fact that we had improved every gme until today.

Put the ball in the fucking box dont just sideways pass it.

It's all very reminiscent of Luke Williams era

Lovely interception by Brynn.

Comedic

Having witnessed Harrogate, that’s not a very high bar to improve on to be fair.

Shade 20 yarder saved by the keeper.

10 fucking men lydnsey sought it out or leave. :crash: :suicide:

No ambition

Shade with another shot, saved.

Shade likes a shot

Who do you support?

Last 10 min have been better.  Just needed it 30 ago and I think it is a different game

Hes the only one today that does.

Agreed, but the original post suggested that those saying we had improved every game were wrong, and they weren't, until today.. 

6 mins added to score.

Reed is one of the most overrated players we've had, utterly feeble and shite. Conference south standard

Yeah not disagreeing, it’s just a low bar and largely just been improving levels of poor.

Just need to keep putting in the box quickly before Gilly back line gets set and opportunity will come

At least the conference has plenty of southern sides.

Utter dross

Lindsey has 3 games for me- results so far just unacceptable

2 games on the trot against ten men and failed to win either just shows the tactical ability of the manager!

 (Boreing  :cry: :badmood:

Utterly dreadful negative football.

Lindsey out. Stand by this.

Very poor. Played 80 mins against 10 men and created very little. Gillingham been in poor form as well.

Watching that was like eating dry toast,

…we’re not creative enough & we’re not positive enough…

4-5-1 against 10 men for 80 mins. Pathetic. Lindsey got to go he’s so out of his depth.

I never wanted him in

Piss poor performance, shit team selection, useless tactics.

Other than that we improved and played well and Gillingham are a good side!

Get a proper manager pronto!

1 win in 9 now, another few games with the new transfers for Lindsey and I think it will be judgement day

That was absolutely shite. Barely a chance created against 10 men.

Me neither chap.

 :clap: :clap:

Lindsey out.

Sandro too if he thought Lindsey was the best candidate after his extensive search.

No doubt there'll be a few on here who try to put a positive spin on this.

He’s had enough games for me. Nothing will change with him in charge.

Jesus christ that was painful.
yes it's tough to play against ten men, but you can change things instead of passing the ball sideways around their pissing box for 80 minutes.
The balance of the team is off with Shade and Lavs on the right, glad that got changed up but I didn't think Williams brought much to the party.
I thought Shade or Williams would go off and put wakeling to run the channels instead a direct swap for Jephcott.

It's another point closer to survival but fucking hell that was dire

"Couldn't score in a brothel"   :suicide:
 

Clean sheet

That is enough for me to show that my early fears are correct.  We have enough talent in this squad to be doing much better than this, this says to me that the coaching team do not have enough about them to get the best out of this group.

Time to make a change Mr Morfuni, the experiment hasn't worked.

I was giving him 10 games but I think he has to go now.

Today showed that he just isn’t up too it- playing 80 minutes against ten men against a struggling side and failing to trouble the keeper- just not acceptable I’m afraid

that was.. well.. dull.. frustrating.

let's hope the newbies can add something when they bed in.

Goals win games!

If only we took some chances in and arund the box rather than just passing the ball to keep possession.

30+ times we beat our man and then pulled the ball back and then it was passed 3 times sideways.....rinse and repeat. Just have a fucking shot like Shade tried to.

Time for a chance, 90 of the last 180 spent playing against 10 men and we have created nothing with an aggregate score of 0-1. At the very least Lindsey needs help by bringing in an experienced number 2 or moving on altogether. It’s not just the score it’s the pedestrian nature of our performances and how lost the players look.

I agree.  Players are not bad just look uninspired and at the end of a game like this just defeated.  Not sure if manager just insists that they don’t play creatively and fast when have the advantage and just stresses possession above all else ?

We've drawn 5 games out of 7 more than any other team in league 2

Hang on, let's not let the players off the hook here.

It shouldn't matter who the manager is. We are playing against 10 men for 80+ minutes.

We have the players,

Lindsay is just jot good enough to get the best out of them....

Mid table is all I can see for this season

Unacceptable.

Pretty pissed off.

Poor management and nobody on the pitch stepped up.

Shite.

That useless cunt should resign tonight. Fucking woeful. Pricks in charge, learn that he hasn't got it

This is it for me.  Even if the results aren't there yet, it's a worry that we can't yet discern a plan from the stands.  And neither does the manager seem to be able to articulate one.  Of the games I've seen this season, Stockport was better than Carlisle.  The midfield held together at least and competed.  But even then, I couldn't work out a formation - let alone a game plan.

Really want Lindsey to succeed.  But I'd like to know what it is we all need to get behind.  What's the vision?

Well, that was bad.  I know people will disagree with my next statement, but I don't really care.

We have only been the better side and worthy of a win in one game, against the worst team in the division.  So what if we have been a little bit better each time - the starting point was fucking hopeless and we have shown no ability to create.

I really don't know if this is a management problem, but I think we have recruited really badly this summer, despite everyone getting excited by deadline day deals.  

We have utterly negated the point of having Reed in your team.  The way we play means he only brings negatives to the game now.  A good player for how we set-up last season, no point whatsoever in this team.  Very little upfront - I know it was Jephcott's first game, so will cut him some slack and accept his reputation, but Wakeling is not a lone striker and Jephcott, on that showing, does not look like the type of player we have been missing.

Shade, Hutton, MacDonald, several others - bring nothing to the table for having a go at promotion this season as far as I can see.  A couple of our signings may turn out OK in the long run, but our club should be looking to put together a team that can get out of this fucking division.

Williams/Gladwin - it doesn't work having both of them.  Spend far too much time on the periphery of the game.

There is no drive, no pace, no presence, just a lot of players who can pass the ball 10 yards between each other.  We won't be in danger this season, not by a long shot, but we also don't look like we be a dangerous team this year.  Mid table mediocrity - and frankly that is simply not good enough.  I don't care who wants to take the blame, I doubt they will anyway.  Manager, recruitment guru, coaches, players, anyone.  None of it has been good enough thus far.

And breathe.

On the plus side, we have somehow only lost one game.  It can all be fixed, I think.

Lindsey always felt like the cheap appointment (more of caretaker mould you’d deploy mid season after a manager is fired).  

We need to get a change and move him aside as a matter of urgency.  Truly awful start to the season whilst we all want to be patient you cannot escape the inability for us to adapt and have a plan b.  He has two home league games to get four or more points (can’t see it though)

Even this early I think a change is needed.

it's too early for me, but I'm not sure what I expect to change

there are some very (generally) balanced people out there with a similar view.

the next 3 are crucial

He won't go and won't be sacked.
Not just after the transfer window has shut, we will have to put up with this for a while yet.  :cry:

Does anyone think Lindsey can turn this around?

Time to get Big Dunc’ on the phone…

Sounds like a dreadful display. Gillingham are shite with 11 men and it’s embarrassing we didn’t get something out of the game against 10. Did any of our lads play well?

Oh go on then. I'll say it.

We'd have won that with mcKirdy.

Some very balanced people with very certain views coming out of Priestfield.

The club will only go backwards with Lindsey in charge. Time for some decisiveness in the boardroom.

….well no, he would have been serving game 2 of a 3 game suspension for being a twat

Parsons scored for Banbury today :)

I ask because I don’t know but was there any other options for a coach?  Was the a “good” coach out there that would have wanted to come to Swindon or was this just what was available?

I am not so sure. We have enough players who should be winning that today but they look absolutely shot to pioeces. Shade has played about 4 positions there ttoday

££££££££ is the answer

 
 :clap:

Too many voices shouting over one another. Lindsey - go.

So anagement not willing to pay the wages to get a quality coach to try to keep team momentum from last season going?

3 of 3 as I think the pizza up counts but yeah good point :D

I actually think it was more to do with our inexperience in the boardroom and around the club in general.  I don't think anyone knew what to do.

That is a dream. He would be amazing, we must pay more than BT do every once in a while when BT show an Everton match.

Under the impression he had two left to serve in Scotland.
Either way he wouldn’t have played today but take your point anyway.

…he left Everton to get into management, so…

Hawes too nice.

so, you are saying things will improve. That's something

That wasn’t great listening. Especially with mobile I follow app only giving the away comms  for me.

Sounds like that was a big step back. I did mostly agree with the “we have improved game on game” mantra. Went to sleep last week and cost the win, but thought it was better. Clearly worse today, so I hope there is no pretending otherwise.

Away comms kept repeating how slow/laboured the build up was. Even they were frustrated with it.

Sounded like a Garner home game in one of the rank patches last year. Must do better, hopefully with some match fitness in the new lot that can happen quickly.

Attendance 4,925 anyone know how many were Town fans

Lindsey sounds well nervous on the radio now, he must know his head is on the block and he doesn’t have much time left.

honestly, nobody knows.

With the length of time it took to appoint someone already employed by the club you may infer he wasn't first choice.

who knows

Spent most of the day driving down to Poole so didn’t get much info.
Son messaged us to let us know they were down to 10 men.

So when we arrived here was disappointing to find out we couldn’t score against 10 men for 80 mins against a team that is struggling.

Afraid to say that’s just not good enough

At least we had over 700 passes

Harris hasn't got a bad managerial record at bigger clubs maybe swap for Lindsey considering he has affection for Gillingham 😀

Unless STFC spend a sustained spell in the bottom 3, I doubt that there will be a change in management. I suspect that a mid to lower mid table finish won't be seen as particularly problematic.

it's not really the result that bothered me today. OK maybe had we scored I'd feel differently.

more the way we tried to play. Williams reincarnate

Manager hasn't a clue how to change things - WTF  :doh: opposition down to 10, brings on another striker........ then takes Wakeling off!!

 :suicide:
 

But the lack of revenue through the turnstiles might be

You can’t tell me that any of the other interviewees - if there were, indeed, any others - weren’t a better choice than Lindsey. We’re they put off by the model, the recruitment policy, the wages? Would have thought we are a fairly attractive lower league club.

We were either paying lip service with no intention of employing anyone other than Lindsey or what was on offer was very unappealing.

I suspect the potential candidates probably put forward the idea of a tough tackling midfielder and a hold up forward and were politely told to go away.

Doesn't fit our model apparently.

In the past whenever Swindon have advertised for a new manager we've always been told there's been 60,70 serious applicants so assume this summer would have been no different.

"Fast attacking football"

But you can’t showcase young talent in a team that is awful - no matter how good the individual player may be.

Success on the pitch brings in the big transfer money.

I’m usually very patient with managers and wish to give them a long time and a chance, but that was awful today.  So slow and pedestrian with and without the ball.  Stupid decision to take Wakling off when putting on Jepscott on

I don't think that you can put this all on the head coach. As mentioned above, the players have to share a significant proportion of the 'blame'.

Does anyone from the "give him 10 games" gang really, seriously,  genuinely believe SL is going to turn this round??

I was in the ten game camp but don’t think he will take the club forwards so think he has to go

Of course you can...

Hate to say it but not a chance

Disagree today. If you are playing against two deep banks of four, struggling to get behind, would you rather face that with two strikers moving their defence around, or one?

There was also a certain irony that Hutton, the wing back, gets dropped for the natural right back, on the day that we’re up against one striker. Another obvious sub to have made. It may not have worked, but he didn’t try. The shape stayed the same throughout the match, albeit with FBT pushing on a bit in the last 20 mins.  

But he’s not a manager. He never has been, and hasn’t had to make these decisions. If he’d ever intended to be a manager, really, he would have been one before the age of 50.

The club, it seems, went for the cheapest possible option. And it’s proving to be a false economy, because the management will devalue every asset we have.

This.

I cannot see how we ended up with him. A team that finished in the playoffs should have been attractive for all sorts of managers

£?

Yet another example amongst countless others of this Club taking one step forward followed immediately by two steps back...

Surely if you want to progress you speculate to accumulate a bit?

Not appoint a youth team coach as manager

Harry Parsons scored for Banbury today anyway

No, sadly. Nothing personal. He just needs to go, or the next few weeks, and beyond, could get ugly. He should be relieved of his duties this week.

Totally disagree with that.  If Clem only cares about cash, then the reduced revenue will be a massive incentive to change things.

If we are shit, or have nothing to play for, people just won't be arsed to go.  

…yeah like keeping hold of your top goal sco….oh wait.

I really wanted it to work but after seeing signs of improvement recently today has raised serious questions. It was slow, laboured, pedestrian and the players body language overall doesn't look right. It's almost like they lack any belief and that they seem to be confused by what Lindsey is looking to do. He said he wanted fast attacking football through the thirds. We've seen very little evidence of this. Perhaps he's a good number 2 (not in the toilet sense) and needs a proper manager to work with. First half there were players popping up in different positions all over the place, it was either a high level of fluidity or confusion!

I think we seriously need to have a think whether this is going to work, I've got my doubts.

are we convinced that the squad is good enough to get promotion?

Not remotely close to it.

No goals in it. Back line seems less leaky but there are no goals on this side & no one that can dominate a midfield.

Reeds such a passenger. We should have flogged him for cash.

I’m convinced this squad is better than 1 win all season.

Every game, without fail, we offer up chances to the opposition. Just like last season but without the goal threat.

Worst of both worlds.

Gladwin still can’t move and should probably play walking football and Johnny Williams; if he goes will be the worst player at the World Cup. Mad to think a player who can’t even run a midfield against a shit L2 side with 10 men could play on the WC.

We sold all of our creativity yesterday.

I'd argue that it's not even speculating as that would imply investing where we didn't even want to pay the going rate for the role so ended up with someone not qualified for it.

It's the same with the back office staff too.  Penny pinching on staff is a false economy

It seemed from a lot of posts that loads on here thought that the squad was really strong

…oh and we no pacey players at all

That’s because a lot of people still believe Reed is a good midfielder who wasn’t completely carried by Jack Payne driving us forward…

It was …..  on paper.

would a return to attendances of 5-6k affect the finances that much?

Well, they sure wouldn’t help.

The early sending off didn't help us according to SL.

It isn't, it really isn't.  It's average for this division, lacking in many areas though.  No pace, no width, no central presence in the forward line or midfield.  We have also made Reed pointless with our recruitment and style (what little there is).  It's not a bad squad, it's just mid tabley.

Absolutely this. They thought they had a bit in the bank and got it right last smmer and have been proved wrong. It happens, how they deal with it now is the key bit for me.

Massively I would say...

Course it didn't  ::) ...pathetic...

Totally disagree with this, the style and formations have made us look this way but a better manager has us sat in the play offs at the moment

I know you don't like him, but he had a purpose last season.  It works when everyone else has the legs to do the running and create the space for his passing and play as a sort of QB.  Just stood in the pocket pushing the ball about.

He is everything you say this season though - no legs in the team at all.  Gladwin and Williams together create slow football.  Shade is a plodder, Khan not right for what Reed would give you.  Essentially, everything that is stopping Reed from playing higher up the food chain is now on display.  You have to build around him or not have him at all.

Yes.

Whose to blame Lindsey or Sandro for the signings which has affected reeds play🤔

Don’t think a better manager would have this team as high as the play offs
A better manager *might* have recruited better in the summer though.

Obviously different opinions on players and that’s fine.
Don’t feel Reed played the ball like a QB midfielder at all last season. He got it from Conroy and moved it sideways till Payne or McKirdy got it and ran forward.
Also felt teams left him free because if he was open - we’d always pass to him rather than go forward. Even felt at times he stifled us.

Gillingham forum saying our fans booed the players at full time.

as i understand it, the owner has to keep on eye on the spending and finances to make sure that we live within our means and survive. it looks like this might mean hanging around in league 2 for quite a while but isn't having a club the main thing.  If the books are balanced and a few quid can be made from player sales and property deals, every one must be happy.

With the right manager you should be able to get more out of those players with Barrow & Stevenage good examples for a comparison.

…everyone apart from the fans, who are the main customers.

Like if our goal is to just sit tight in L2 and make a few quid we might as just fold the football club and be done with it for life.

Audible boos, and Lindsey out chanting.

Cheers😀

Absolute dickheads at the end abusing the players "fuck off MacDonald you cunt and take that armband off" one of the more repeatable ones. Yeah,it's the centre half's fault we didn't win. Absolute half wits. I understand frustration but how is that sort of thing gonna help?

That SL interview is terrible.  As a manager/coach it’s pretty fundamental that you have some basic communication skills.  Either that or the interviewer mislead him and told him the camera was over his shoulder or on the interviewers shoe.

Very very worrying as that’s not the body language of a leader.  He will not command any respect if he cannot hold eye contact during difficult conversations.

One positive. At least we have two half decent full backs now. New lad showed promise for me

@doomster, I've just seen the interview and you are spot on, it's exactly what I thought and was about to say. His body language is how the players play, lost and desperately looking to find the right path without proper leadership.

He sounded clueless!!

On paper we have a decent squad but after watching todays game it’s pretty evident that Lindsay has no tactical nous.
Boring sideways football with no end product.  I don’t blame the players for the way they’ve been told to play and they certainly don’t deserve being booed.  There was plenty of effort but no real real game plan or direction.
Have a feeling if Lindsay goes we’ll end up with the No2 being his replacement

There’s a reason for that - he is.

Yes Frigby,I was just across from him. What a miserable man,I too wonder why he bothers

There were some mindless idiots in there today. The aging bald headed chap in the grey t shirt on the aisle gets a special mention. Abusing the “Tottenham div” and “Welsh c***” even in the first half. He looked positively disappointed when someone did something positive (limited, admittedly) because it denied him the chance to abuse someone. My 7 year olds comment was “why does he bother coming?”. And he had a point.

Lots wrong with the management, but it’s not right to abuse them, and certainly not right to abuse the players.

Nope.

But I also think it's too early to make the change.

I know it is contradictory and makes no sense.

You have to let this transfer window latest editions give him a chance. I think Christmas or just before at the earliest.

yet, as I said, I have no confidence.

I guess it ultimately depends what the club defines as success is this season. Gate receipts will as pressure but maybe a break even season with survival is the brief.

it's probably  going to take years to get this club moving up. This is the start.

I still maintain this should be being done in league 1

not sure if this is serious or not.

if we are genuinely expected to hang around l2 for a long time, then Clem needs to get external investment or sell. It will be death by apathy

We were moving forward last season now we're stagnating, how long before we move backwards!

Yes of course it would by about £1.5m per season, lots of variables there of course, but would be a shit load of cash.

You dont think we would have 4 points more than we have now. You honestly don't believe for one minute that we don't beat Stockport or Gillls with a better manager

As someone who watches 40+ games a season and is an accountant I think that's total copoutery bollox.
Last season was a firefight, we over performed without doubt but we paid off a shit load of debt and had higher turnover than expected due to the gates/playoffs/cup run.

This season we chose to hire the cheapest manager who was a massive gamble and it hasn't worked.   Paying a proper manager an extra £20k per annum would not have broken the bank.

Penny pinching doesn't work in any service industry, yes be sensible but dont limit your decision making though cost control over everything else.  

As much as I'm sure he is cheap, I don't think cheapness was the primary motivation for hiring Lindsay - it was that he would work with the transfer model we're aiming for and 'bought in' to it - Sandro said on the radio that managers had been discounted for not doing it.

I don't think that is what they are thinking, they want to get out of the league. I think it's simply what Rob T said, they made a mistake, simple as that

thats great as I also go to around 40 per season

You probably work for the club haha

Good day out. Got the step count up

Normally a point & clean sheet away would be ok.

The setup v 11 was fine.
Against 10 the tactical approach was piss poor & it didn't change bar some minor tweaks.

That kind of patient, play the percentages game stank the place out.

Calls for Lindsay to go at the end. Premature to my mind.
He'll need to nip it in the bud & deliver on the fast, aggressive attacking football otherwise the Lindsay out bandwagon will gather momentum.

Hate the in game casual abuse of players.
 

I don't get individual abuse.

Have to hold my hands up to booing in the past, and probably future!

Not yet though.. it's 7 games.

_----------------
is it possible the club see the promotion building as a 2 year project, this setting the foundations for next?

we have dished out a few 2 year contracts.

I can live with a 2 year project.

Many will not be able to & that would be understandable.

2 year project...utter bullshit...please lets stop the excuses...

I agree, it doesn't help the club saying it either as their objective is promotion.It just becomes a stick to hit the club with when it's not what they have said

What worries me more is what does he do when Ellis is fit and returns. He will shoe horn him in somehow but seems reluctant to split Williams and Gladwin up so no doubt soon we are going to see a big shift in style and formation again

Agreed, the priority in L2 should always be to get out of it as soon as possible. A ‘2 year project’ to get out of this division would be pathetic and if that is the clubs view then they are going to see income rapidly nose dive as a lot of fans rightly won’t stomach it.

I include last season as the first year so this season needs to be promotion.

I mean, how does missing automatic promotion last season by 3 points, suddenly become a two year project?? Fuck that shit...

The fans gave the players and Manager stick.
Quite rightly so.
Absolutely pissed off with that.
Lindsey was a coward playing one up top when they were down to ten.

Two games running now and unable to put 10 men to the sword.

Even against 10 you were always concerned that Gillingham could score.

That was shocking today, absolutely shocking. No idea, no confidence and no hope.
Shit and fed up.
Wing backs that can’t beat a player it’s criminal. Ponderous, turgid and useless all over the park.
Managed by someone who is out of depth.

Two year project? - They can fuck off with that shit.

consider it dropped. was just a question.

nothing like this has come from the club. was just my musings

you are all right, the expectation in div 4 is to get out every single time

Indeed, or it becomes a THREE year project!!!

Hope the pro Lindsey brigade take note and listen to someone who follows the club  all over the country.

;)

Oh well, it's not all doom and gloom, I can quote again! :)

yay! maybe it's forum section specific

Who's pro Lindsay? Football fans are fucking mental, literally creating scenarios like that and 2 year projects to get angry about and start ranting about

Agree.
Lindsey clueless today, a coward that refused to change it up front.
Wakeling needed support and why take Kahn off?
Don’t get me started on the wing backs. Countless times we went forward, we stopped, went backwards and Gillingham just cantered back into position.

Down to 10 for such a long period of time and their keeper had little to do.

There's always a few that will back him

for the glass half full amongst you :)

Longest current unbeaten streak in the EFL

Ipswich Town - 10
Portsmouth - 7
Leyton Orient -7
Sheffield United - 6
Bristol City - 6
Fleetwood Town - 6
Swindon Town - 6

#itfc #pompey #lofc #sufc #bristolcity #ftfc #stfc

Iandolo in centre mid instead of either Reed or Gladwin

Thats a bit of a weird post

Me and you know that but will he do it?

it was a question to the forum. not a statement of fact

I don't have Rob or Clems number to ask what their definition of success is

Apart from Fleetwood all of the others are fighting promotion and at least they're  a league one team!

No chance will Iandolo be able to play centre mid.
Still not sure that Williams and Gladwin works mind, but take out Reed you have no player at the back that can hit an accurate long pass.
Today was shocking the amount of misplaced passes from McDonald.

Not mentioned you? Stop being so defensive I was on about the reaction to it

Whilst undoubtedly factually correct, I made the point to Mrs Taylor earlier that this really doesn't feel like a 6 game unbeaten run...(not picking on you Batch I promise  :))

I said to my wife, nil-nil, fucking rubbish. She said, still unbeaten then?

Indeed not.  Every draw is two points dropped, and when you expect to be challenging for promotion,  that's not good enough .

Body language!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i-NQj0Dix14

sorry DMC, I was the one who raised it, so assume it was.
---
re: strikers - suggestion from Twitter wakeling was suffering from his earlier smack on the head.

didn't come across on ifollow, but maybe explains the one up top fuckwittery.

I'd have stuck Williams up there mind

Fuck off, that's two wins
--
yeah I agree

Reed can’t do shit other than pass it 3 yards sideways. He adds nothing to this team.

He’s giving me serious Sheridan vibes. Give him a break before it’s too damaging for his mental health, he clearly hasn’t got it and it’s not fair to make him suffer

As I always treat this site as the more balanced views compared to Twitter/FB threads, reading this thread definitely shows the dissatisfaction with the way things are progressing with the club and makes me think that we cannot all be wrong.

Change in all the various aspects of how the club is managed/playing is becoming a necessity, not in two or three months time but very, very soon otherwise we will become also rans, just making up the numbers in this Division and certainly not what I would think the fans or owner(s) wish to see.

I agree the guy looks really down and probably isn't upto the pressure of being a manager at this level.

I don't interpret it in that way

I still don’t see what Day and Gunning bring to the table, just come across as a pair of louts!

Yeah far too many involved. That was what actually set my alarm bells ringing regarding Lindsay as he should be telling them to shut the fuck up

Clearly missed some of his passes today?

Interview with Lindsey was very bad. Seems a bit overwhelmed with the responsibility of being in charge. A very poor communicator. I would have thought that Clem will be thinking his appointment was a mistake.

All those passes which created and led to absolutely fuck all - as per usual.

From what I’ve seen this season, and I assume it was the same today - reeds issue is he has nowhere near the options in front of him as last year

Full backs are far more nervous, midfield is much more static, center backs are much more uncomfortable on the ball, centre forward doesn’t drop deep

So whereas last year the team (when playing well) worked with much more fluidity, giving reed more time and space and ability to manipulate the opposition with his ‘three yard passes’ - this year it just adds to the stodge

We play like we read about garners tactics in a book, and just understood it to mean ‘pass the ball’. When I’ve seen us this year it’s been like watching a pinball line up - very rigid and inflexible

Not condoning the performance by any means but I wonder if Salford fans were as apoplectic when they couldn't beat our ten men.To be fair,we should have won. Point blank header from Blake-Tracey and an incredible miss by Jephcott from 1 yard plus their keeper made a couple of decent saves but generally the team does lack impetus and Lindsey doesn't instil confidence but I'm willing to give it a while for new signings to bed in. I know one thing I'd rather be in our shoes than Gillingham's, I think they're nailed on relegation candidates

Can’t point the finger at Reed when he hit the wing backs to feet in acres of space.
A lot that was wrong today was when the ball was played out wide.
Reed is missing both Conroy and Payne without doubt but I am more concerned with what we are doing in the oppositions half.

I disagree with the first part, we can point the finger at Reed. He should not get a free pass in all of this.
However, I agree he is not the main issue or the worst player we have.

My opinion on him is clear and if it differs from other people opinions that is fine - however, he should not be above criticism for his poor performances.

Fucking dross. Spineless performance once again. Weak mentality. No game plan, nothing. Game was gifted to us on a plate today, ref done us a massive favour 10 mins and we still couldn’t trouble a side with 10 men for 80 mins. If anything, they come closest by hitting the post.

Angus McDonald absolute pony today, passed ball to gillingham attackers whilst under no pressure way too many times.
No idea what shade was doing again.

Classic Lindsey taking Wakeling and Khan off and leaving Shade (who actually had 1 or 2 good efforts at end) amongst others on pitch. Bottle job management not going for the win. Was like we played for the draw and it was us with 10 men. Boring to watch, no style, no identity, players not sure on roles. Highlight of game had to be FBT in the 80th min screaming get in the fucking box to his attacking team mates.

No positives from today, unless you wanna say we didn’t lose the game and are 1 more draw away from a second win as 6 draws= 2 wins? 💦😂

10 games in now? He’s not up to it, clearly. Squads good enough. Fans loud and clear at end chanting Lindsey out and telling players to fuck off - good on them. Two expensive and underwhelming weekends wasted.

I guess it’s not been clarified one way or the other but seen as Wakeling went off not long after a bang to the head - I assume they are related

This has gotta be the weirdest take of the day. Opinions and arseholes, sound. Sounds like something Sheridan woulda spouted out mind you.

Louis Reed, promotion to the championship season before, carried our midfield last season and look lost when he didn’t play, started this season rough, getting back to his old self. But he’s now useless. Bad patch of form for fuck sake. Rolls Royce of a midfielder at this level. Reed was absolutely fine today. Sprayed ball well, not his fault the full backs/wingers or whatever Lindsey calls them were useless.

Lindsey’s useless. Not Reed.

Didn’t realise. Still, Ridiculous subbing Khan.

Can't remember watching a Town side with less of a clear plan of how to supply the strikers (and this goes back to game 1 with Adeloye up front).

Big big week for the coaching staff on the training ground to show if they are semi-competent.

and then not making any other subs. 10 men absolutely knackered and makes 2 subs? In regards to full backs i really felt for them at times today. The new lad making his league debut put in a back 3 after 10 mins, Shade played in a back 3 at 1 point then rb then central ten ended up in a position he played superbly in last season and suprise suprise looked a different player.At one point we had a free kick and Wakeling was wide right and Khan was up top

Madness

The players genuinely don’t have a clue where to be in this “system”, do they? awful and painful to watch.

I posted earlier that I don’t think Lindsey has he balls to either drop or even sub a senior player from last season.

Got to the stage now where I reckon the players take no notice of him.

He’s way out of his depth.

100%. No way these players trust/believe in him.

Scenes at the end today tell you how bad things are and how toxic things are. Only gonna get a whole lot worse if it continues like this.

Doesn't sound great; with so many normally level headed and balanced posters in despair.
In an ironic twist Harry came on for Hibs today; who were also weirdly enough up against a team who were down to 10 men after 10 minutes. Only they won the game.

What happened at the end?

Seen a few Luke Williams comparisons, he was close to coming here wasn't he with that Brighton matey? Any way, Williams' Notts County are currently undefeated in the Conference, only they've won 4 from 7

Heard the interview earlier but just watched the interview with Hawes after the game. It’s the most awkward thing I have seen in longtime. Lindsey either can’t or won’t look at the interviewer will he? Spent the whole time looking at the floor or around the stadium, I get some people are less comfortable with the media than others but at least have the courtesy to look at the interviewer. He looks as much out of place off the pitch as he does on it.

It's bizarre yo say the least. Media work is a big part of the job so if you're not comfortable doing it why take the job. To me it looks like he's really down which is sad to see but if being a manager is going to be too much maybe ask to step down and get a role coaching again which he obviously enjoys and comes with no stress.

Totally agree don’t wish anyone to have mental health issues over it.  Read his bio on Wikipedia as a refresher and two things strike me one is how little experience he really has and the second was the personal tragedies he has gone through.  So my hope is either he turns this round fast or that the club give him plenty of pathways to just going back to being a coach under the tutelage of someone new with more experience. 

I cannot see Sandro allowing this to carry on for long as his reputation is also on the line.

Post of the thread.

I think some people don’t watch the game.

Credit to the Gillingham Manager mind for the substitutions he was using and the time introduced.
He maintained the energy and tempo using up the full quota.

if we were getting dicked every week after just 7 games I’d be saying Lindsey out… 6 games unbeaten - if we had converted just 2 games into wins we’d be in the play-offs… and I’ve no doubt there’d still be some of you complaining

Two games against 10 men, dropped points.
It doesn’t look right on the pitch, create very little and with 3 points for a win just falling behind a pack that are winning games.

There’s 2 ways of looking at teams that draw a lot of games.

1. Unlucky not to win more of them

2. Lucky not to lose more of them.

We got lucky with Salford and Orient at home and Carlisle away

We were too poor to take advantage at Stockport and Gillingham.

The less said about Harrogate the better.

Sorry, but there’s virtually nothing amongst these first 7 games to think things will improve hugely.

I think that could be justified. Say Stockport's equaliser was incorrectly chalked off for an offside, and yesterday FBTs header goes in, all else being equal we would have 4 more points but not played any better.

The luck element would perhaps afford more time for people to male their mind up, but the concerns would be exactly the same, masked only by the results.

Battling draws against good teams or away from home are to be applauded but for the most part that's not what we've seen.  We don't appear to have a plan to win games and the manager seems incapable of adapting to situations or even using his subs sensibly, amazed he only used 2, clearly doesn't trust the squad he's happy with. 

It's been the same all season and I can't see it changing, finding a way to win is the most important quality of any manager/team and we just don't have it.    We don't create enough or look solid enough to be anything other than a team making up the numbers. 

Now the crowd has started to turn it's going to be even harder to change that.   Have bought Doncaster and Grimsby tickets but if we're still shit at the end of the month, I'll find something else to do rather than waste time and money turning up out of duty.

We were poor yesterday, which is a shame as after last week I was slightly more optimistic as we had shown signs of improvement every game. Even though we were poor yesterday, we had chances to win the game, Jephcott somehow hit it over from a yard and Blake-Tracy had a great chance with a header, there were a couple of others too.

Lindsey was up against it from day one as he was seen as a last resort/cheap option, so the indifferent start hasn't helped. I don't like the coaching set up, it smacks of non league and I can't honestly see them taking us forward.

I'm not sure if Lindsey still travels to Kent daily or stays down here away from his kids during the week. Either way none are ideal and good for family life etc.

I thought that as well. If that is the case, reuniting with Garner at Charlton could be a win/win for all concerned I would have thought...

Good post and that's not knocking Lindsey but that would be better for all concerned.

To me multiple if's don't make a solid case I'm afraid.
I think if we'd played the same and scabbed a few extra wins I think the lack of direction from the recruitment and on the pitch would've only papered over the cracks that we're a shadow of last year's team

I'll start this by saying I don't think 7 games is long enough to see. He hasn't even used some of his new players yet.

so no, I'm not calling for his head

But to my eyes, which have admittedly mostly been ifollow so far, we look so disjointed and without a plan. Many of the games I've seen we've created very little, look shakey at the back* and the midfield just isn't clicking. it's slow and methodical.

*yet have somehow only conceded 6

so yeah I have a bad feeling.

Back line has been ok I think
It doesn’t look as composed as last year and sees a bit more ‘get it away’ than ‘pass it out’

I guess you could say we have better defenders there this year but not better footballers.

if our goals conceded keeps this up I'll be delighted

It's an odd one isn't it, the defence looks shaky but we've barely conceded a goal since Harrogate. Either they're better than they look or we've been getting very lucky.

Or we have a better goalkeeper & the opposing forwards are poorer!

As I said above I think they are better defenders but worse footballers

Weirdly, we’re only 3 points worse off than at this stage - 7 games - last season. Bearing in mind 3 of those points last season was v Scunthorpe.

Both Mansfield and BRovers were worse off than us now. But, of course, we don’t know if those 2 were actually playing alright but just not getting the results..

Don’t get fixated on results - it’s about performance at this early stage. And ours are shite.

Interesting that. Luck by its very nature is a game of chance to some degree or other. Another three games conceding on the level we have so far then I’d say it can’t be luck.

Both teams locked down us - beating 10 men is easier when you already have a lead - at 0-0 the objective for them is a point…

We WERE leading Stockport when their player was sent off. So that didn’t work either.

I wouldn’t say Stockport locked down on us, they equalised with 10 men.

Sorry but there are literally no excuses for not seeing off a team that is already struggling and then plays 80 minutes with 10 men. We didn’t even seem to have a plan to utilise the man advantage.

Our squad is now very bloated (28 players ?) which I don't think will help with so many players not having the chance to play on matchday, that will not help morale, I do think that Sandro is looking to much at his data model and bringing players in that 'could' become good in the future and being able to sell for a fee.

There is a concern our exec team lacks experience, Sandro has only 6 months football experience at Wigan, Rob & Clem have never run a football club before or been involved in football, who convinced them the data model was the way to go forward, was this decided after the Ben's left or was this part of the reason ?

How much of the decision does the head coach actually have on the players recruited, you do wonder with some of the players brought it.

I think that SL was given the job as others interviewed were not convinced and probably not sure how the model would work having not worked like that previous, SL was then the perfect replacement being already an experienced coach and knowing the club and players already here seemed the right move, unfortunately at the moment it is looking like SL may not be the right man for the job, I'm sure he will be given time for the new players to bed in and see if he can turn the draws into wins.

If SL is relieved of his duties in the future will it be any easier to attract someone else mid season, do you look for someone with a bit of experience that has been at another club and is out of work or do you stick and look for someone who is a coach at another club ?

Will they want to work at a club that when another club comes in and offers money for a player they are then sold, which means one or more of your best players is constantly being sold as that is the model your working under.

Lets hope SL can turn things round over the next few games.

The open forum in a few weeks time could very well be dominated by questions about the head coach and direction the club is heading in.

There was a plan. Lindsey explained, and I think it was evident, that the plan was to go side to side, looking to move Gillingham from side to side to create space in the middle, wait for the time to cross or shoot… We did the passing bit but there were two failings. It was too slow, so it didn’t pull Gillingham around at all, and then on the few occasions it may have created space, there was a lone striker in the middle of two deep banks of four, crowded out. Solution - move it faster, have some variety, and have two or more strikers in there. We did…. nothing different. The same thing over and over again. We’d be knocking it about 20 yards from goal and there was no buzz in the crowd. Everyone was bored senseless.

He doesn’t appear to be well in that (and previous) interviews. And that’s not a man that is ready and capable of pushing the club forwards. He needs to be given a break. Go back to the youth team, or to Charlton. We’re just waiting for the inevitable otherwise and that does nobody any good.

Even with middling to poor results that end up with a nothing season, part of his remit is to develop players and if the results remain this poor and performances this turgid is he even fulfilling that objective? Obviously no so surely he'd up end getting moved on for that let alone not getting us challenging where we should be.

There’s an open forum? That passed me by.

28 Sept - tickets in advance, Trust & SC have sent a link via email to get tickets

https://twitter.com/STFCSupClub/status/1565595385837416449?t=87qzhqGdxb2WPv7PwzWyGQ&s=19 (https://twitter.com/STFCSupClub/status/1565595385837416449?t=87qzhqGdxb2WPv7PwzWyGQ&s=19)

it's great it's being held as it's part of our charter. qdos for doing something Power completely ignored.

Thanks, gents.

Troll post, surely.

They were too focused on silly things like winning games. No time for that, it isn't our brand.

I don't think anyone is necessary pro Lindsey. Its more just some are happy to avoid facing the reality of the very obvious shit we're in with a manager who is out of his depth. Some would just rather deny it was staring them straight in the face for as long as humanly possible. That time has just about ran out.

Not half as weird as yours.

Seems our comrades in Oldham are suffering similarly with the Shez

https://www.owtb.co.uk/topic/53572-sheridan-out/page/16/

This does feel like it wants to be last years team but managed by the previous seasons manager

We've had to sign so many players though, simply because we've made some absolutely baffling signings that are so far off the standard its painful. As much as what we all think of Lindsey tactically, he shares some of the blame signing off on these but Sandro has to take responsibility for them as well.

For example, how hard was it to see Harries wasn't up to it before signing him? Did they watch him last season? and I can't for the life of me think how anyone would see in watching Adeloye would think "yeah, gotta sign him". Some of them were just absolute head scratchers.

We've wasted money on too many players that if you done things the old fashioned way, you'd have made the right call.

Exactly this. We've been sleep walking towards this from day dot in my opinion. The appointment was a mistake and one it took us weeks to make.

Prioritise a manager who can win us games of football next time please.

no

How much of Harries and Adeloye did you watch last season?

Harries is an intriguing one at the age of 25 have we brought him here to develop or has he come as a bench warmer🤔

Perhaps Clem is mates with his dad

But we have the option of doing both. Find a player from DDR, scout the player.

Neither are going to be perfect

Not really the point is it? Based on what I've seen of them for us I cannot imagine anyone doing their due diligence on them and drawing a different conclusion.

Unless maybe they just both turned shite the moment they signed with us, coupled with the legions of Bristol Rovers fans being wrong about Harries.

No, it was exactly your point. You’ve decided we shouldn’t have bothered signing them based on the very little you’ve see of either them this season.

You have no idea how they did last season and how many times the club watched them?
…but you didn’t watch them and your the expert on how they did last season?

The fact its so painfully fucking obvious they're not up the standard required without having to see that much of them doesn't really strengthen the argument in their favour, does it?


I had an idea before on Harries from Rovers fans and his record there, watching him just confirmed the fears.


Pretty sure this was a question I asked, never said I did.



What is your argument, they forgot to play football the moment they signed here? Was what we've seen so drastically different to last season then? Were Rovers fans wrong on Harries?

I literally said on Adeloye I can't think how watching him and seeing anything like what I've seen would result in wanting to sign him. You do realise that is a different thing from saying I fucking scouted him myself?

Either you watched them a bunch yourself and they were world beaters and you agree with signing them or this really isn't the 'gotcha' you seem to think it is.

No, I haven’t watched them. I have no idea what their strengths or weaknesses are. I have no idea how they played last season.

I haven’t claimed otherwise. I haven’t called them world beaters nor have I written them off after a handful of games.

You’ve written them off and strongly suggested it was obvious from last season they’d be dire. Maybe I’ve got a tiny bit of faith that the club know more about player recruitment than you.

How has that worked out with said players?

Mixed bag so far I’d say.
Some good, some with potential, some not so good, some need more time/opportunity, some we still haven’t got the faintest idea about
…but…it is still early doors…

Can I ask a slightly different question. Do you think with a better manager we would be in a fair few more points

Look at Evans at Stevenage. I don't believe they have better players than us!

In particular on players that have been cast out of the side because they're very obviously not good enough, meaning we've had to make extra signings and have a bloated squad of 28?

Which was the original point.

Its very clearly not 'early doors and we don't have the faintest idea about' territory with certain players, is it?

It seems everyone including Lindsey and Sandro realise they fucked up, because they've signed replacements for certain players and relegated them down the pecking order.

They were mistakes to sign, just like Lindsey was a mistake to appoint.

Yeah, definitely. However certain players are complete dud signings. Thankfully we should now have enough players where few of them will have to play. Just gotta hope the second batch of signings are a Di Canioesque significant improvement on the first.

Hopefully a new manager gets to choose them!

Although apparently you can't make such judgements so quickly. Perhaps our entire fan base was wrong about the likes of Mattia Lanzano after a few games and we shouldn't have had the faintest of ideas about him when we bombed him off after 6 games for Wes Fodderingham, because it was still early days.

Mate, are you ok? You are literally quoting yourself

Quoting has been a lottery on here recently to be fair.

On the other side of the coin - and well aware it was yonks ago - Fjortoft was very nearly bombed out after his first dozen games or so but came good so it's not beyond the realms of possibility the ones that have been poor so far might turn out to be a success. As has been mentioned in the Squad Thread that SL has played Hutton at LB in a few games and Darcy at RB also, which won't have helped.

I'm not disagreeing they've been disappointing, but some slack is needed in my eyes given the leadership and organisation of the team has been lacking so far this season.

it seems that many are quick to judge and get really angry . chill man!

Its just following on from the post, rather than editing. I'm fine, thanks.

Inept all round yesterday.

I may be wrong but I thought we set up 4-1-4-1 throughout, which is obviously nonsense against 10 men. Lindsey’s tactics were woeful.

The players didn’t do themselves any favours either. Passing and shooting was amateur at times, and for the most part it was our own poor play that gifted Gillingham chances.

I’m all for giving Lindsey more time to prove himself but yesterday was so bad that I wasn’t miffed by the “We want Lindsey out” chants at the end. I’m normally pretty forgiving but for most of the second half I was thoroughly pissed off with the amount of crap I was witnessing.

Finally, I hate the Gypsy-related chants. Sadly, it even made a copper smile during the exit from the ground.

Arguably Lanzano as the example I gave should be more on the side of given time like a Fjortoft of 'give him time' given he was a player coming from abroad to play in British football for the first time. Sadly for him though, he was a keeper and you can't quite do that in the same way.

Adeloye you might even give a little more to, although he's played in Scotland and shown nothing so far.

If Harries turns good though, I'll eat my hat and I don't even have a hat. I'll eat a Clem Morfuni potato print bucket hat.

If I was forced to have to eat a hat it would probably be a pork pie one but I think your bucket hat is probably safe from ingestion. Harries is going to be non-league next season.

Post of the thread? Telling the players to fuck off and calling them cunts?I'm not condoning the performance but out and out foul abuse achieves nothing. Absolutely nothing

And one game with 10 men

you have to wonder whether the pass pass pass model is even worth it nowadays with the 5 sub rule. noonger the days of wearing the opponents down and winning through fitness. half the outfield team can be replaced.

Sadly old fashioned wingers have been coached out of the modern game gone are the days when a winger skins the right/left back and gets a quality cross in to the box.

Good job the likes of David Moss, Ian Miller and The Don (not necessarily an out & out winger) retired from the game when they did.

Feel free to include others without trying to look like a fucking Uni Professor of Footballing Player Positions trying to make your dick look bigger than it actually is.

Those we the days before players were cloned😀

I think they are still found in the higher leagues

Di Maria?

I think that Anthony just signed by manure is one

Don't watch much Premier League but will look out for him.

Good post.

My Mr Reasonable "give him 10 games before judging him" just evaporated over the course of that second half.  Cannot recall a 0-0 away draw I have ever found as quietly traumatic.

Gillingham is a rough old place, reminiscent of Luton to me.  But I also hate the gypsy chants.  Football is still a pretty rough theatre though and I admit I might just raise a wry smile at such chants in response to any sheepshagger taunting.

I think we need some perspective - as Adje said earlier we had the chances to win the  game and didn’t take them. A couple of wins from the two home games coming up and things will look very different.
Saying we should sack the manager after 7 league games is hysterical nonsense.
I was also disappointed with the abuse of players and management at full time yesterday. That will increase the tension in their play rather than helping them in future games.
We’ve had a huge turnover of players, some are still settling in, 5 arrived on Thursday and some of those are probably not match fit. I’d put Jephcott in that group. Only 3 of yesterday’s starting 11 and Baudry on the bench were in the squad for PV last season.
I assumed that Wakeling going off was linked to the lengthy treatment  he received a few mins earlier, rather than being tactical.
Gillingham sat very deep and made it hard for us penetrate - the pitch at Priestfield is very narrow which helps  a side doing that.
However, I agree that we didn’t play well. Not enough pace or tempo in the play yesterday - we never really built up a head of steam, or made the keeper really work, and nobody tried to take on their full backs. I am hopeful it will improve after a full week on the training ground.

Certain players will always be dud. We have that every summer

No one is saying you cant say it but at least be balanced and acknowledge some of the good signings.

We had chances to lose the game too.   In fact we could easily have lost 4 or 5 as we've only been the better side twice, Rochdale and Stockport, and failed to win the latter despite being a goal up against 10 men.  

The writing is clearly on the wall already and for me I think we are at the stage where he has to win the next 2.  A point a game gets us relegated, that's what Oldham got last year, so it's just not good enough.  

Pushing it on Harries, looks like he struggles to warm up let alone play. I believe he was a garner signing :-(

Well that was a tough and turgid listen on Saturday.

Gills almost snatched it!

I hope i am wrong but this is looking like Luke Williams all over again with a Coach and not a Manager in charge.

Newport seems to be a must win, if not we might hear a few boos.

Im away til Northampton so plenty of time for them to turn it around for me!

Now read back.

Devils advocate.

Lindsey’s first 7 games is no worse than a whole host of previous manager’s first 7 games. I know we have to add perspective to that but he’s suffering more than the others because fans automatically formed the opinion he was the cheap, last minute, bottom of the barrel scraped, appointment so expectations were prejudiced from the outset.

I happened to notice,reading about Rotherham’s match on Saturday,that their thirty seven year old centre half,Richard Wood,scored his fourth goal of the season.Given McDonald’s slightly indifferent start to the season,it seems that Rotherham knew what they were doing in releasing a younger centre half,and keeping the older one.

Still think McDonald needs a bit of slack.

He has barely kicked a ball in anger for quite some time, and I've no idea what kind of preseason he's had.

Do you know something we dont? Put us straight!

I'm going to stick my head above the parapet here and say I think McDonald is going to come good. He's not been perfect, but at times he looks a classy customer especially bringing the ball out from the back and he made one absolutely perfect crunching challenge first half that was really old school. His distribution required work but him and Clayton I think are going to be a very good partnership once we sort our shit out.

My favourite moment of the game. Proper wallop (too soon?)

Think we are better at CB this year.
MacDonald has missed a lot of football so hopefully regular games time sees improvement.
Honestly, think Clayton will be the pick of the bunch from the summer and someone we will make a profit on within 2 years.

Yeah Clayton looks great so far doesn't he?

I know it’s *only* L2 but not every youngster out the academy set up takes to the ‘men’s’ game so easily be it the speed, the physicality, time on the ball or talent.

Early days though obviously but if you knew nothing about him and had to guess you’d probably say he had a season or two at this level on loan under his belt

Yeh despite the rough start Macdonald has had I agree he and Clayton will be a solid partnership this season. In fact I think the the whole unit will be fine once they've had some time together.

Need to sort it out going forwards though. Feels like there's enough there, just need someone to get a tune out of them..

For me macDonald is as strong and powerful a centre back as we have had in years, what he struggles with is with the ball at his feet, hes barely been beaten in the air but has regularly been beaten on the deck.

His passing is also wayward at times and can some games not even find a Town player 10 yards away, but hes not fit, it takes months to get back to fitness when you haven't been playing much, hes only played about 15 games in 2 years after his cancer etc.

I am sure he will come good.

I think you're wrong on the first point.   It's not easy to find the stats as managers often start mid season, but If you look at first 7 games of a season, 8 points is better than 20/21 and the same as 16/17, both relegation seasons.

Di canio started badly but even he was on more points by this stage.  He also had a bottomless pit of cash to sort it out.

To put it into perspective Malpas had 11 points after his first 7 games. 

But also...under Macari in 85/86 after 7 games we were in 20th place with 7 points and won the league by a clear 18 points!

In 86/87 after 7 games we were in 18th place on 8 points (same points as now) and still won promotion through the play offs at Selhurst Park.

In 2011/12 under PdC we were in 13th place on just one more point (9) than now and had 4 defeats and still easily won the league.

Basically we’re fucked already then? Or would you like to insert a caveat just in case we get promoted or finish a comfortable mid table?

MacDonald is good at all the things Conroy was rubbish at…but…so far MacDonald has been rubbish at all the things Conroy was good at.

Fused together they’d be VVD!

McDonald was shocking Saturday.

Has a decent pedigree with other Clubs and like others have mentioned needs consistent game time.
Still confident he will get better and needs to.

Defensively we still look exposed, Brynn looks a decent prospect and reliable keeper.

Comfortable mid table isn't good enough.

We won't get relegated as only 2 go down, I've been consistent in saying that we will finish lower mid table with current management team and have seen nothing to change my view.   Some people may think that's ok but it really isn't.

I would agree, MacDonald is a good blocker/header of the ball but far less when the ball is on the ground. But then again if he had the attributes of Conroy he would still be plying his trade in the top 2 divisions I would think.

That's a really long time ago now, so is far from the norm. I mentioned Paolo bought his way out if it, Lyndsey won't have that luxury

If sum it up by saying MacDonald is a defender. Conroy is a footballer. If that makes sense.
Of course if either of them had the attributes of the other as well as the ones they posses, then they wouldn’t have ever played for us in the first place…

At no point did I suggest it was "the norm" I just stated it as something that has happened, more than once in the past, it will happen again too I am sure.

Nt sure timescale and when it happened has any bearing at all on it, it DID happen.

The thought of yet another season in this awful League just fills me with dread.
I absolutely hate this division.
However I am going to have to come to terms with it and I will. Still very early days and simply hoping we can rapidly improve.

Unfortunately the Gillingham performance was worse than Stockport. The Lindsey out chants would never have surfaced if we had won Saturday but that is the fickle nature of our fanbase.

We were all left downbeat after Port Vale and the only consolation was belief in an immediate improvement and making a real go at the top 3.
From what I have seen we are nowhere near where we need to be, still time but come October I won’t be surprised if we are not looking for another Manager.

So on that basis no manager should ever be sacked as they will come good eventually.

I'm not saying that it won't and hope he turns it around and goes onto win the league,.  It's just from the 7 games I've seen, there's nothing to give me even an inkling of confidence that it might happen. 

He needs a couple of wins for sure, or it won't just be voices on here calling for his head.

I'd love to see who is saying that's acceptable

After 7 games      PTS   
Paolo Di Canio       9     
SCOTT LINDSEY   8     
Mark Cooper         8     
David Flitcroft       8     

Yet again I never said that I just personally think 7 games is too soon, if the trend carries on for say 10-15 league games then maybe, it seems a bit knee jerk. Yes it was shit to watch with more sideways passes than Ray Wilkins. There is no risk taking, no crosses put in the box as they all seem too scared to cross or shoot and lose possession.

I do think though that if Williams header went in, one of Shades long range efforts bobbled and went in, the Jephcott heavy touch from FBT's header, the Williams miss from 8 yards out then even if one of those efforts went in then all would be far more happy than it is now.

Every one of the chances could and probably should have been converted, but we also came accross a keeper who totally kept Jills in the game with 2 or 3 excellent saves.

We aren't Watford, we cant afford to keep sacking managers and replacing them.

Did I want Lindsey to be appointed? no

Do I think hes up to the job? no

Does he know his best formation? no

Does he know his best tactics or style of play? no

Do I think he may learn that and correct the issues? yes

He has obviously made mistakes but lets see if he can actually change things. He may, he may not, but I also dont think Sandro/Clem will admit they got his appointment wrong so soon after appointing him anyway.

I also cant see him walking or being relieved of his duty having only lost 1 league game from the first 7 anyway, it wasn't for the lack of efforts, we had 23 efforts on goal with 4 on target. Our issue was converting the chances we made.

That for me has been our issue all season so far.

I agree with most of that, although they also had some good chances to score from our pissing around at the back. 

It is too early to sack him, I agree, but I also think it's becoming clear that his appointment was a mistake so it's a case of when not if.   

Here we go again, round in circles.

The only thing that is acceptable this season is promotion, preferably automatic, play offs at a push. Utter tosh to say we won’t go down as there are only two slots for that to happen, it could with one slot. We rather hope it won’t but with only seven games in the jury is still out either way.

I actually think, that the board and playing management are acutely aware of their respective positions on promotion and will move a few mountains to make it happen, especially after last seasons near miss.

Of course the mantra will be to pay off debt and be sustainable, that is a given. But there is a but. I mentioned before that the clubs stated ambition of ground development and the goal of being a sustainable championship club in 8 years was it? Things need to happen on the pitch. In relative terms the club is awash with money compared to previous seasons under the old regime, in so far as season ticket sales slightly higher than last seasons, average gates being up, a great FA cup run and the Twine and now McKirdy money (all unaccounted for budget wise) and the club maxing the shit out of its revenue streams. The good will of the town fans could suddenly dive if we end up in L2 next season, they know this full well.

If it is not happening for SL by mid Nov and we get dumped out of the FA cup in the 1st round there will be change and the cheque book will open up in Jan with a new man in place.

SL, if you’re reading this I hope you do well, I want you to do well but the club CANNOT afford and be allowed to drift into a third year in L2.

We probably won’t go down but we MUST go up!

Let's hope Lindsey turns things around as Sol Campbell is still without a club🤣

We, as always, create chances for the opposition in every game, luckily Jills were shit in front of goal or it could have been much worse. Our best defence even under Wellens and Garner was to outscore the opposition (no shit really I know).

I dont think and never have that Lindsey was or is the right man but I hope he can change and become half decent negating the need for him to leave/be sacked.

Football is about very tight margins and we a little more luck/ability we would have been cruising at HT.

Unfortunately though we didnt score which is why there is so much negativity.

THE most frustring thing of it all for me is that we seem like we won't take a risk in having a cross or shot when the chance appears.

Wether they have been told/coached/tactics employed/player confidence but I lost count of the number of times we had the ball, passed it well about 15+ times created an attack and then instead of trying to thread a pass, get in a cross or have a shot we passed the ball sideways 4 times then it gets pushed back to our own half and we had to start again and again. Rinse and repeat ad infinitum.

It seems we employ "keep the ball at all costs" rather than taking a risk in getting the ball in the box or having a shot.

Cloughie said "you cant win the lottery if you dont buy a ticket.

On Saturday we didnt just not buy the ticket....we failed to enter the shop to buy it and hung around outside of the shop debating wether to go in or not.

Fuck Brian Clough, he’s dead and I did buy four lottery tickets for Friday nights euro millions and won fuck all, where did that leave me JJ? other than £10 out of pocket 😁

And so is Jimmy Floyd now!

We could get in the soon to unemployed Brendan Rodgers :)

We could get a soon to be unemployed Scott...

:)

Parker?

He's more of a pundit these days plus I can never understand him!

With his son in midfield 😀

We should get a currently unemployed Scot…

Think back to this time last year and what Brovers fans were saying about Barton ….  

He's definitely the pick of the signings that have been shit, but on paper has the potential to turn it around.

Big fan. From Lindseys comments it looks like he didn't walk straight in the team for fears over being weight bullied, but not seen any evidence of that so far.

Well that really is damning, especially the last line.

Yeah i see that, the fitness team had him put on 4kgs :eek:

I thought it was 2kg or has there been a further update? V impressive either way.

I can do that in a weekend  :)

It's just 4 pints without a piss  :pint:

It isn’t really that damning.
Malpas took over a decent, solid Strurrock team.

Clayton and Khan been my two standout new signings, Wakeling and Brynn looking good too.

The ones people worry about, RE shade, hutton, Mcdonald, Adeloye etc etc, the squads strong enough now for them not to feature as much/at all

Nothing wrong with this squad now, its good enough to challenge at the better end of table.

Completely agree, along with what we've seen of Darcy.

I agree with this, i have seen glimpses of Shade and MacDonald to think they will come good but Hutton looks shot of all confidence now and i think Adeloye will just filter in to nothingness.

Darcy is clearly full of confidence rn and has looked lively nearly everytime he's played in one way or another. Feel like SL is fucking up/missing a trick not using him whilst he's playing how he is. Would mean williams getting dropped I think so not an 'easy' call to make I guess.

Yeh agree. Although if we are going to persist with the passing out from back, Baudry in the XI over Mcdonald for me.

Agree, i would actually have prefered to see MacDonald integrated into the team considering how little he has played. Would have used him in cup games etc

Anybody recognise themselves😀

Why don’t they put away fans lower down there? Scared of some atmosphere? Object to colourful language? Weird.

Nah,next block over

Yes 😎

I've found ya😀

How big is that steward top left?  ;D

Looks like he’s having a bad hair day.

Is that a bird’s nest on his head ??.

I think I see you, in the checked shirt?

With Flash over his right shoulder  :)

Did Flash go? theres a bloke in a bucket hat looks like him but didn't think it was him.

It's not him but there's a resemblance  :D

I did double take :) although I think I know the bloke.

Too young to be Flash :)

Wtf is that, bottom left in a purple hat.

The Angel of Death?

A lot are smiling and applauding, I guess this was taken before kick off?  :)

Guilty my Lord. Bloke next to me is Jonny Williams’s Dad.
Cracking fella.

Photo clearly taken before the game kicked off.
Moods were different at the final whistle as you can imagine,

I spied Kinky Tom and Kinky Tom's dad!

The guy behind DOB with the blue jacket and turquoise t shirt and hat (glasses and beard) has just appeared on a Facebook site called Awaydaysleepers.