Thetownend.com

Well we do have a game early Next Year!

The fixture list could have been a little kinder for away fans as a 150 mile journey isn't ideal for any late night revellers.

Colchester 1 Swindon 1 Att: 3,780 (420 Town fans)

Austin eligible to play?

Colchester 1-3 Swindon.

COYR.

No.

Piece of piss 1-4

Nope.

I believe we will win this.  0-1.  FBT will chip in with a goal.

Fancy this might be only our second back-to-back wins of the season (Sutton/Doncaster, as you ask). We only have one pair of back-to-back losses too (Crewe/Crawley). Consistently inconsistent!

If this is FBT's last Town game, let's hope he goes out on a high.

Is there anything (other than logic) from the Burton side of things to suggest they will recall him? He seemed keen to stay.

Going to this and bought tickets off the CUFC site earlier. Making a day of it with Mrs GR by staying overnight in a nearby Travelodge. No expenses spared from me. Planning on having a few pre match bevvies in The Dog and Pheasant, a Hungry Horse pub so food should be ok. COYR

Logic.

I can only see one reason why Burton wouldn’t want him back and in their team and that’s if we are paying his wages and they’ve used that budget else where and can’t afford to pay the replacement and FBT.

As I’ve said before I can’t imagine a team that have conceded 45 goals (2nd highest in the division) in 22 games have 4 better defenders than FBT.

Another thing in our favour is Burtons form has picked up recently.

Did the team travel up to Essex after training?

One of their first choice CBs (Sam Hughes) picked up a bad injury on Boxing Day, too.

Jo Tomlinson would be a good replacement if we could get him.

 This will probably end up nil nil

I go into most games now thinking it will be 'Swindon Town nil'

Greetings to all those making the journey.  Hope we get the Austin bounce,  2-0 to the Town.

Pre match bus wanker on a rail replacement service somewhere in deepest darkest Essex.

Eta Colchester about 13:00 so still time for some hydration before the game.

Pick up the 3pts to put the debacle of last visit to bed.
A win would certainly make the shit journey back a bit more bearable.

2-1 to us, Williams and Shade

Shame Austin isn't available as I think he could have given us a bit more of a lift.

Since early October Colchesters results have been LLLDDLLLWLLLWL.

They have 2 players on 3 goals and 5 players on 2 goals as top scorers.

Therefore.

I just cant see beyond a defeat.

Lose 2-1

wobbly bob will proclaim he's arrived in the Swindon style. A slower less direct route with several bus stop entries before finally getting to his destination

we will win 3-0. Jephcott hatrick. he'll lift his shirt and the game will see a "Charlie Who?" t-shirt underneath. Tuesday training will be awkward.

Lindsey will walk towards the fans with his hands apart, the crowd will go "wooooooooooaaaaa" in anticipation of a clap. The hands start to move together, then stop abruptly. Nobody knows if he's trolling the faithful, or wherever it was the confusing simultaneous cries of "make a first" (mildenhall) and "fucking lump them" (mad gav) that did it.  It will forever remain a mystery as he chuckles and walks away for the last time, to be inexplicable be named assistant to Garner at Southampton (sacked at Easter).

Meanwhile a loan voice at the back of the crowd shouts "cor blimey, a win, that's 3 draws that is", he's quickly escorted away by Sandro and Angus to continue the job interview for an unlikely return

Batch, I likes the cut of yer jib.

3-0 win, Shade Jephcott and FBT and Lindsey to come over and clap the fans 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Is the match available on iFollow for those based in this country ?
I know 3pm kick offs on a saturday aren't allowed, but don't know if sunday/bank hol makes any difference ?

I think it is, it's certainly showing here

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/ifollow/subscribe/

West Ham have terminated the season long loan of attacking midfielder Dan Chesters to Colchester with immeidate effect so he wont play today having played in half their games so far.

Easy win today, they're shite. 1-3

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

Reed in for Khan otherwise unchanged.

Reed starts ahead of khan

Reed coming in puts a lot of them rumours to bed.

Rob H on co-comms, also Hawes discussing Lindsey's relationship with the fans!

Khan not on the XI must be leaving like Reed was after he wasnt in the XI last game

But starts just as many about Khan

soapy tit wank.

it's silly season part 2.

with Reed you can see how people interpreted his lap of waving at the CG as him being off, especially coupled with 6 months on contract and being benched.

it's not a totally stupid conclusion.

For me I think I would prefer this line up with the current players available

                     Brynn
Hutton Macdonald Blake-Tracey Lavinier
                     Reed
           Khan              Gladwin
                   Williams
        Jephcott        Wakeling(Austin)

Cheeky 1-3 to town me thinks. They all know who will be sat in the stands watching (I assume he will) or waiting on the training ground when they get back. When he plays someone makes way for him and that ripples through the team sheet regarding the way we set up and with who. Not forgetting any other additional personnel coming in.

The commentary on the video stream hasn't started yet, anything interesting said?

Still haven't got into yet currently discussing Austin.

Nope not really.

See there’s no Doris in their matchday squad. Has he left them?

Hes been at Stevenage for 2 years :D

Fuck me! Old git alert.

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1649250/TeamStatistics/England-League-Two-2022-2023-Colchester-Swindon

Liked this bit from the Head to Head preview - Colchester are "Very weak at defending against attacks down the wings"

Could be a Hutton day...

Notable that their weaknesses (attacking down the wing, through balls) are our strengths. Bodes well. Come on Town!

Colchester fans a bit bemused by their line up, taking out 3 of their best players and replacing them with youngsters. Nouble, Akinde, Sears and Huws all dropped.

They are also saying their keeper O'Hara is useless.

He was very good on FM a few years ago...

Crowd looks properly shit.

Yeah. That stand looks empty

Hope he gets regularly tested then!

Think there’s a problem with the stream

He wasnt in goal in the reverse fixture when we beat them 1-0, his only appearance against us was for the Macc Lads and he conceded 2 goals.

We havent won here in the last 5 visits.

We will soon see!

sorted?

ok here

Annoyingly listening to Bromley vs Southend whilst watching Colchester va Town!

ah I see. it's ok now here

Now we have gone back to Colchester.

Very laggy for me. Driving me mad. Just a local issue?

Sorry, fine here.

Better now, fingers crossed.

For your signal or the result ?

Bright start. Colchester giving us time on the ball in midfield, which tends to be the one thing that you really shouldn't do.

This green kit has to be our most ever worn third. Should have worn all red today.

MacDonald has played 2 very short passes so far.

Glorious ball from Frazer Blake-Baresi

FBT brilliant pass to Williams and his pass to Shade is cleared for a corner to Town.

They've also given it away cheaply a few times already in their own half.

Need to put these cunts to the sword today.

Lovely looped pass from Gladwin, so close to finding Shade.

Colchester go to deck very quickly.

Cole Skuse must be in his 40’s, surely?

You know you’re up against a shit team when the oppo comms are saying we look threatening from set pieces!

Make it count Town.

Nice deep cross from Hutton to Williams who crosses it back but its blocked for another Town corner.

He's younger than Luke Chambers is!

FBT header saved.

Another corner.

I'm... not convinced they've scouted us at all. Hardly marking FBT from corners?

MacDonald again gives it away, just pass it short.

Not sure they have any player that can beat FBT in the air anyway.

Fuck me I loaded this page about two minutes ago and only just happened on my stream. My comments will be way behind

Town totally controlling the game so far but need to capitalise on the possession and with the chances we have had, they are not pressing us at all.

Seems to be the same every game we play

Thats the different between iFollow and IPTV mate, 2 mins 30 delay apparently.

FK to Town 35 yards out and just off centre.

Gladwin shoots and it hits the wall, poor free kick.

Seems to be a lot more movement in midfield so far though than normal.

For the price can't complain too much. I was complaining about how shit we were vs Northampton to a mate only to be told we'd scored. I thought he was winding me up.

Gladwin with a lovely chipped pass to Hutton down the right but Hutton misshits the cross.

:D TBH I had exactly the same conversation with the forum Yank Goddard who was watchin in IPTV too on Tuesday!

Every chance of this biting me on the arse, but Colchester look fucking bobbins.

Agreed, so far they have been very weak, I am sure that wont last though they will improve.

Colchester are just standing off us and allowing us to pass when and where we want.

Their fans in good spirits!   :girlgiggle:

Could get interesting if we get a deserved goal.

Surprised you can hear them! its like a morgue!

Couple of minutes delay here but once again our composure in the final third has been awful. Hopefully going by the law of averages based on the amount of times we’re getting in there, one or two will pay off!
!

Great save by Brynn.

They look absolutely dreadful, but our passing is very sloppy. Awful L2 game. You can see them nicking this if we don't take our opportunities here.

Oh jeez that was 100% Hutton's arm.

That was handball, lucky escape.

I think Hutton got away with a handball there too.

0-1

 >:(

FFS

Fuck me. :1-0

Well, there's the predicted arse biting. Annoying, but we can score goals here, no need to panic.

Always is a fucking morgue at Colchester. Is there anything actually built around there now? When I went years back not long after it opened there was nothing other than the stadium for miles, a gypsy campsite not withstanding.

Souless.

And there it is. Exactly the sort of laid back performance we get after every decent one.  :crash:

Now we know how Northampton felt.

Fucks sake, wake up and beat this shit! 😡

Huttons arm was by his side. Wasn't a corner. Good goal

How the fuck are we losing to these? They're proper shit. Should have been a pen to them for handball anyway so not even undeserved.

Fucking shite.

I'm not even angry though, I'm sat here chuckling. Its so ridiculous.

  :suicide::Good god realy :harp:

It was, but the ball was going in. I *think* that's a pen anyway in the rules, no? (just not a card?). But who the fuck knows what the handball rule is these days!

Northampton worked a fucking sight harder than our bunch of casuals.

This is repeated game after game against the proper shite teams.

Fucking classic

That's my understanding. If its stopping it towards goal I'm not sure it matters.

Anyway they scored less than a minute later.

We are shite.

FFS.

we were pretty good. I was enjoying watching us.

undone by shitty marking from the corner. FFS.

still struggling to create chances mind

No point battling at Bradford, Northampton etc then losing to fucking Crawley and this shower of shite.

Lavinier tries a carbon copy and his shot is well high and wide.

It’s the same every week, loads of the ball without creating chances.

I'd find it easier if we were shite. We're not shite, we're the better side and we're 85% of a really good side. Just that last 15% is all the bits that matter.

We need to get shots in against this shaky looking keeper, his handling isnt good but we have hardly tested him.

It wasn't an unnatural position so it wouldn't have been given? I'd say it's irrelevant but the fact the ref then gave a corner as compensation is annoying.

We are winning box entries though so every cloud

If he could make a habit of his goal the other day he wouldn’t be playing in League 2!

The Colchester commentators where just betraying their team for not being able to lay a finger on Town. They had all but given up!

Then the Hutton handball and we go to pieces.

Brynn, although he has been good, has been beaten by a couple like that this year.

That 15% is the Lindsey factor

Yeah its just the putting the ball in the opposition net and not having it go in ours parts of the game that we struggle with.

We're trying to go just over the top of them quite a lot. It's not quite worked out yet, but we keep trying it. Clearly really fancy getting them on the turn.

We have gone from being in control but not scoring to a team that looks scared and facing far more pressure against a shit side, standard stuff.

Just. Fucking. Shoot.

Looking quite Sunday League at the moment, nobody can control a football.

Mistake. Mistake. Mistake. This is very hard to watch.

Game over. Beaten by a side with 4 wins

If Pele wasn't already dead, this would finish him off.

As said already, we did this week after week,  play first 20 minutes of attacking football then just drop back and let the opponents score.  Happens most weeks without fail.

Decent delivery from Dolo but nobody pressing it, good chance.

Indeed it does.

Not winning but 65% possession
Which is what’s important

5 in 45 minutes time.

Brynn totally misses his catch, we got away with that.

What does Iandolo offer us in midfield?

Kinell. If Brynn's this far off it we're fucked.

HT

Fuck off Lindsey

Other than 1 cross hes done nothing today so far. A passenger, need Darcy or Khan on 2nd half for him but Lindsey wont ever sub him unless hes injured.

HT 0-1

Nothing. He's a poor player and perennial weak link

Let's see if Lindsey has the know how to sort things out in the second half!

Don’t worry,  it’s HT,  Lindsey will sort them out.

How has Brynn gone from hero to zero? His handling today has been very poor.

A left foot

The score is very annoying, but this game is absolutely winnable. Colchester aren't good, we just need to take the handbrake off a bit. When Williams, Reed and Gladwin are in possession it's clear they are a cut above the Colchester midfield. Just need to be a bit braver in attack.

A good old fashioned bollocking may help😀

We have lost to Crewe , Crawley now losing at Colchester.Take the Northampton lucky result out of equation even Sandros super computer must
be worried about these stats!!!

Feels like a repeat of other games I’ve seen this season.

Loads of possession & intent but lack of quality & good decision making in final third.

One attack from opposition and we are one down.

No excuses with this one. Colchester are so, so poor.

Big 45 minutes coming up

COYR

This is crap.

Lindsey hasn’t got any bollocks

Still think we’ll somehow win this due to how fucking abysmal Colchester are, but blimey, if they’re shite I wonder what that makes us? For all the ‘domination’ (is pissing about with the ball for a couple minutes in their half really domination?) they have created 4 brilliant chances to score, whereas apart from one FBT header, we’ve created nothing of note. Pedestrian in attack, weak as piss at the back. This midfield trio is the latest of midfield partnerships we’ve tried that just do not work. Iandolo being a football league player for this many years baffles me and watching Gladwin trying to dictate the midfield is like watching a blind man try to play catch.

He was linking very well with Williams and Lavinier prior to the goal.

Just as Gladwin was doing on the right hand side.

Then all of a sudden, Colchester stopped them playing

That's where Charlie will take over in the dressing room!

Careful mate this is abuse!

Other than the obvious, the issue for us is with them being in front, they can keep everyone behind the ball and let us have possession.

Essentially this is now like a home game, up to us to show enough quality to break them down. Doesn’t feel that likely at the moment. We didn’t capitalise on a good first half of the half, not created much since.

Big half time team talk this. COYR

Playing extra games flatters our league position because so many teams are close to us in points, so some of them have to win. We're in reality outside the play offs looking in and looking worse every game.

We've been sleepwalking to mid table failure from kick off this season. Its been painfully obvious all season Scott Lindsey was the wrong choice (one they took weeks to make). Scott you seem like an alright bloke, but anything outside of top 3 is absolute failure in this league. That is where the negativity comes from.

Sandro can fuck off and all. His spreedsheet needs to be emptied from the recycling bin and then the hard drive smashed to pieces and buried at the bottom of the sea. Way too many sub par signings.

Started to feel pissed off now the reality of this has set. Not so funny now.

This is the main issue ... how can we have so much of the ball and create next to nothing & yet a really very poor side have a five minute spell and created more clear cut chances against us.

Anyway, plenty of time to turn it around & let’s hope we find a way through second half.

Pretty telling how he said he’s gonna be vocal and we need it as he can see we haven’t got anyone that is, despite having likes of Macdonald, Gladwin etc all 30+. It’s silent on that pitch, captain Macdonald says nothing


He will run this dressing room and clear that he has Clems blessing to do so.

Season defining 45 mins now, get back into this and use some subs at the right time Lindsey or bugger off and let’s get a manager with some nous!

It's clear to all that something needs to change if we have promotion aspirations let's hope Clem agrees.

And for all the hype of Austin returning, goodness me it’ll just be even more frustrating watching him get fuck all service like poor Jephcott had that half.

Battered them for 20. Fucking embarrassing after that. They are so bad. Not surprised though, I’m used to these performances from Swindon this season. Macdonald embarrassing as per usual. Gladwin Iandolo useless in the middle. Shade crap. Reed and FBT decent enough.

Nothing other than a win is acceptable.

It's down to the manager then and his tactics!

For me once again there doesn’t seem to be any cohesive attacking philosophy other than pass the fucking ball around as much as possible.  No effort in the attack.  Players not willing to spend the effort in crashing the goal because they will then have to run back in defense.  The midfield is simply too unathletic.  Slow slow slow

style over substance.

not boring, a very good 25 opening minutes. But

possession: 64.8%
shots on target: 1

Brynn is uncharacteristically flapping at crosses too

That was probably the most Swindony half Swindon have ever Swindoned. Dominated the first 25 minutes to the point that the home fans were in uproar at their team's total inability to get intot he game, but we created nothing then go to bits at a few set pieces and could have been 2 or 3 down.

Game's very much there to be won as Colchester are dreadful, but we need to improve massively in the final third.

Say what you will about mckirdy but the whole team and coaching staff would have heard about the shit service goi g into the striker. 

I challenge anyone to find a better half to summarise  us as a team this season.  Lots of possession, not much of it threatening.  No threat at all upfront, no clear plan of how to the the front 3 involved in the final third within the width of the box.  Midfield looks pretty, looks uninterested in tracking and doing the dirty work properly.  Defenders who are prone to losing men when run at.

Shade, Iandolo, MacDonald, Jephcott are all players who simply do not have a positive enough impact on a game.  Would be happy to replace all four this transfer window and most of the players not playing today, which is a damning indictment of recruitment.

Williams is head and shoulders above but offers not threat out wide that can't be covered.  His threat is central moving wide if need be.  The front three are all individuals.

I really do not like Lavinier at left back, he has no trust in his left foot at all, so every move through him comes back in.  He is at least a prospect but he has to be right I think.

Such a frustrating team to watch.

Agree with all of that - the half was a perfect microcosm of our season really.

Colchester are going to sit in now with a packed defence. I'd drop Williams into midfield and bring on RHM for Iandolo. Run at their defence.

We’re so good at giving a boost to teams with zero confidence. You’ve got to come out hard and fast against teams like this, but we’ve learnt nothing from Crewe and Crawley. If we’d scored first they’d have collapsed but instead we fannied around, gave up the initiative and now we’re the ones who are nervous and disorganised. Fucking Groundhog Day.

I think the only positive is - it can’t be worse than Colchester away last season.

They would’ve but more importantly, McKirdy was able to create something for himself out of nothing at times. Jephcott and Austin are not of that ilk.

RHM for Jephcott is... a brave sub.

exactly rouge grenouille, exactly

RHM for Jephcott.

Why won’t that fucker ever play 2 up top

Guessing Lindsey hasn’t learnt 4-4-2 yet. Fuck me he is useless isn’t he

fucks sake. go two up top you fuckwitted arse.

iandolo hasn't done terribly, but sometimes you need to try something else

Colchester took two seconds from kick off to lose possession. They're shit. We simply have to win.

If Austin has any of his old self left he should be a better option than Jephcott.  Austin can get more involved, does more dirty work and hold up play.  Jephcott is an in the box only player.  He has to be played with one or two around him bullying the defenders and providing the legs.

Brynn not coming for that corner we got away with it though.

RHM looking lively.

I think Jephcott was injured in the first 5 mins

Clear handball?

We need to be going 2 up front against this lot, they are so slow in defence, get Wakeling on for Shade.

From our angle impossible to see clearly but it sounded it by the claims of fans and RHM.

I’m all for calls for more attacking play but if we go 2 up top how do you suggest we line up behind the two on midfield?

Who would you play on the wings?

It definitely hit his hand, but it's not really in a strange position or stopped Town getting an advantage. A penalty for that would feel over the top.

TBF Shade has done fuck all so I would just push Wakeling more central and carry on as we are, not sure Shade has beaten his man once yet.

That Chamadou looks a decent player.

So a 433 with a lopsided front three.

He is big and strong and fast but luckily his final ball is weak, but hes very young and could do well at a higher level with decent coaching.

Yeah with Williams floating where he wants.

That looked a trip on RHM off the ball in the penalty box. I guess the ref thinks he's gone looking for it but you've seen them given.

Not sure RHM had a genuine call for a penalty there.

This.

"I don't understand the negativity"

No, neither to we Scott, with your tactics you fuck.

Hutton does well to get a cross in but we cant get a head to the cross.

Why the fuck didnt Gladwin shoot there when he had the chance rather than passing to Reed.

Gladwin does not back himself to shoot these days does he?

What will it take for Gladwin to shoot ever again?

He is a major factor in slowing us down and killing off chances.

We might as well take a centre-back off here, Colchester have no interest at all in attacking.

Indeed, hes great outside of the box and coming out from the defence but in the opposition box hes as good as an extra defender against us.

Really good save from Shade there.

Shade shot well saved.

Sub

Wakeling for Shade.

Shade subbed immediately, presumably for daring to take a shot :D

Att: 3,599

To be fair, he'd been a complete passenger until then.

Harsh :D

Keeper makes one save and decides he's injured. Bizarre.

I know, it's a completely valid sub to make, just unfortunate timing and set up an easy joke...

Well we're giving it a bit of effort to create something now.

Still not much happening, but it isn't as lethargic which is good.

FFS.

Lavinier wins a corner.

He won't take Dolo off will he?

Hutton's service has gone to the dogs in the last few weeks.

Brynn with a doubel save with his legs, a bad mistake by Reed set them up.

500 who probably wished they'd had a lie in.

Not unless hes injured, never.

Just about sums up reed’s season

Hutton cross to Wakeling but his header is a bit too close to the keeper, great chance.

Good save but has to be a goal that

It's that bloody green kit  :badmood:

Colchester do like some time wasting tactics.

Fuck it,

I’m saying it - let’s go all Kingy and chuck FBT up front

Another sub

Darcy and Khan on for Lavinier and Reed.

Brynn saves our ass season 22/23 part 9,842.

Remember some people were saying his importance was overstated?

Only down side to Brynn is SL would have probably been sacked without him.

Iandolo to LB, which isn't a bad idea in my view, Lavinier's one footedness hasn't helped today. Gets him out of midfield too!

Good job it’s not at the County Ground, you’d be on the bus by now !!

Iandolo gives the ball away yet again just outside our box, forces Brynn into another save.

Playing a left back at left back? Lindsey is officially losing it.

And promptly gives the ball away with a shocking pass to Williams.

And there's the problem with depending on him as a left-back.

FFS Dolo still on. Lindsey out!

Fuck let's go long ball what's the worse that can happen.

Real let off as Brynn saves with his feet. Dreadful this.

You cant score a goal if you dont take a shot, simple.

Jesus Christ Hutton. Where's your touch gone?

To shit the last 4 games.

Part 9,843 quickly follows.

Calling him a left back is generous

alleged left back

Iandolo puts in a great cross but RHM is too small to get to it.

Lindsey is no way a manager well out of his depth. >:(

This 100%. Its like a kids team where the dad is a coach who continues to pick his kid who is dog shit.

Lindsey is fucking shit.

He’s definitely not a centre midfielder.

 :clap:  :clap:

What’s it going to take for Clem to sling this clown’s hook

 He never learns from previous  mistakes. :badmood:

Our season to be over and the move becoming utterly pointless, probably.

Khan booking for giving away a poor free kick on the edge of our box, we look clumsy all over the pitch.

How many of the games this season have we won in spite of Lindsey? Would say it’s most. So inept

All Colchester have to do is lump it up to the edge of our box and we struggle. Why??

Now would be the time - 2 weeks before the next game, and the window is open.

Entertaining  football my arse. :)

We couldn't complain if we were three down today.  >:(

Surely this has to be Lindsey’s last 15 minutes as a manager,  unless he can turn this around - Can’t see it though.

Lindsey is fookin useless  :crash:

John Akinde is even bigger than I remember. Got a back like a bison.

Akinde coming on, queue smash and grab 0-2 with that lump scoring.

Hmm, we’ve only managed about 5-10 decent minutes this half. Not good this, feels like this ends 1-0.

Am I going soft or has Iandolo been the best player on the pitch since moving to LB?

Akinde hes always been an awkward fucker to play against

FFS Gladwin when you got for a ball in the 6 yard box dont turn your back on the fucking ball.

Hardly a smash and grab though is it. It's been coming for at least an hour.

10 This is so frustrating
20 goto 10

Think we could play all night and not score

Is he in goal? Have I missed something?

I would really like to watch a training session.  What do they do?  Just work on passing the ball around in a circle or do they actually try to work on tactics and the players aren’t performing ?

weirdly he seems better going forward than he did when he was in midfield.

it's his defending I worry about but he's not being attacked

Dolo gives away another soft foul in our half.

Might be more watchable than the matches tbf.

This is schoolboy stuff

That last minute and a half was trademark Swindon

Not a chance of 2 away wins on the bounce. No way.

I think I have lost faith in Lindsey now, I gave him plenty of time but we have zero tactical cohesion, no game plan other than trying to pass sideways and not shooting.

Utter fucking rubbish, even if we go on and score 2 and win this is shite.

Is Clem there today to witness this shite?

Most of our play looks like a training session. Gives us a good idea.

Those three minutes were our entire season.

Don't mean to add to the general gloom, but Burton are 5-0 down (amusingly, with 60% possession and no shots on target - imagine that!)

Morecambe 5 Burton 0🤔

More needless points dropped  today pathetic.

Useless again. Lindsay out.

Experienced manager needed

Or inexperienced might be better than we’ve got.

Bring on Morgan Roberts so I have someone to vote for as MoM please...

There would be many takers for the managers job if Clem pays the going rate.

Practice passing sideways and back?

Get a half decent manager inn who the fans know and can play decent football to get us out this league.

Even if the crossing hasn't been great, no one seems to attack the box on any occasion.

Hate to say it but things are not going to change....

Lindsay out!!!

6 minutes added time

Doesnt need to be decent football, just effective football like Northampton play.

Yeah, at this point i'm not that fussy.

You can see teams on a poor run getting Swindon in the next game and thinking "thank fuck, we can get back to winning again".

Due into the UK in a few Days.

Ball goes out for a throw. Colchester players waits 5-10 seconds, sits on the floor for no reason. Ref stops the game and calls the physio on. Madness.

totally  agreed venkman.

I bet Clem will give Lindsey a chance to see how the January window goes.

No. Half decent yes. Who the fans know? Doesn’t matter if they’re half decent, play football to win. This is a results driven sport/business. The results speak for themselves. The numbers do not lie and the tangible evidence on the pitch backs that up.

We just do not look capable of scoring.

Might just as well be 60.

Creating nothing.

Poor passing

Poor movement

Not good enough

Well, this is dire. So, so, so bad. I don’t think I’ve seen a team as bad as Colchester find it so comfortable to defend a lead. Wakeling and Shade chances apart, there was nothing. You can see the lack of confidence going forward which is concerning considering we won at a top 3 side a few days ago. Lindsey should not be manager, and if we got rid now, it would not be the end of the world and we would still have a very good chance of challenging considering how piss poor this league is. At tbe moment it is a team with zero attacking nous and the manager has to take blame for that. With the games in hand from teams below, we will be smack bang mid table soon. Unbelievably frustrating to watch

This is not good enough. Something must change.

Impotent. Slow. This side will not win promotion.

This performance has happened time & again. We win some, lose some, draw some.

Fed up with it.

this is really really bad! There just isn't really much else to say.

I'm watching this at home, and I ended up paying more attention to turner and hootch on TV then watch this crap, entertaining is not what I would call it.

Front footed aggressive attacking football? who you trying to kid.

I’d imagine the players are just as pissed off. They’ll be the ones that decide his fate.

man this is so frustrating.

I don't expect a given right to beat Colchester.

 But first 25 minutes aside they've been better than us in the final third and you can probably make a case we should have a point, but that's not good enough under the circumstances.

I don't begrudge Colchester's win, it's a tight game and they've taken their chance.. Brynn saved a few too

6 mins extra time is a big win for Colchester's shithousing. Ridiculous.

This is utter dross, we just spent 30 seconds passing around the back and then gave away a free kick, what is this shit!?

Clem, soak up the pay off and get rid of Lindsey now before we lose even more games and fans

Hes not good enough and we have zero tactics and zero goal threat, just sideways or backwards passing to keep possession at all costs.

Mid table beckons.  Hopeless tactics.  They need to play first time balls instead of this fannying about with sideways and backwards was proven to fail before with cooper.  This is worse IMO.  

Anywhere else the manager would go. Let’s see what happens in the next two weeks.

FT 0-1

Fucking shite.

Well that was totally shit.

Colchester dreadful. Swindon worse.

30 games played under Lindsey, we've won consecutive games once and scored more than one goal six times. It's just not good enough.

I actually don't believe that but I'm going to wait a day or two before debatimg it further

Utterly pathetic.

A team with no idea how to score a goal. Shambolic today. Shambolic.

Fuck off. Just fuck right off.

Happy New Year everyone. Just forget Swindon Town for a fortnight.  :crash:

Game over for the manager. There is no debate.

We knew the other night was lucky. From what I saw today, it was template Lindsey.

FFS Lindsey out

We’re getting into Sheridactyl territory now with this utter dross.

Well, let's hope Charlie Austin hits the ground running. This team, and this club need a shot of adrenaline, and I can't see one coming from anywhere else.

Did Lindsey go to the fans and clap?

This is so far from good enough. Lindsey will be very relieved there's two weeks before the fans get to give him their feedback.

Realistically that puts us about 10th once games in hand are played. Depressing.

That was a disappointing afternoon.

Yes

Ifollow stats: 68% possession. 0 clear cut chances.

We need 4 new midfielders this week and/or a new manager.

Yes.

I don’t think they clapped back, though.

Did he get an appropriate response?

We have let one of the worst sides in the EFL walk all over us and that is Lindsey’s fault. Tactics were so dull it boggles the mind. How can we look so passive against a side battling relegation? No right to just turn up and beat any side but you’d expect so much more against a team that shite. Colchester in the opening 20 minutes looked so down on confidence, you’d have thought once we grab one it could have become a pasting. Instead, they saw with our ponderous football that we’re nothing special, and they took confidence from that. In truth, we had very few answers to what they threw at us, and as we do at home, struggled to break down a side that simply sits back

I keep changing my mind on this. Sometimes I think maybe the major fault lays above his pay grade. Then again, take a signing like Jephcott. Make some chances for him he will score goals. In a parallel universe he signed for Orient instead and has bagged 10+ goals already. We are a disjointed outfit, a team of individuals and we don’t seem to have any idea of how to attack.

Not meaning to disrespect our opposition today, but they are not in any aspect a good side, even for this division. Unless I am mistaken I suspect they have made more chances/shots on target etc than us, and that’s in a game where there have been long periods with them not even trying to attack.

I think we have more than enough individual quality to play much better than what SL is managing to get out of this team. It isn’t working like it should.

Like others have said anything less than promotion is a failure, if SL is confused about negative reviews from fans, that’s why, it’s simple. We have a Mid table points per game rate, who would be happy with that, just SL apparently.

Who says that stats don't tell the whole story? I'd say that's about as clear a description of the game as you can get in six words.

Serious question.    Are many of these player willing to put in the effort to be an attacking team or are they just happy with jogging around passing the ball most of the game?   I look at shade, gladwin, reed, and others and they just don’t want to seem to want to put in effort to make runs to space.  

So a change I. Manager won’t help if starters are willing to run.

Perhaps they don’t want to play for him

He's already in the country

I don't think willingness to run is the problem at all. I think we're approcaching the game in a certain way tactically, and that's hindering our ability to take risks, surprise defences and create opportunities. That fault lies with the management.

He’s been back over a week

Has to be a busy window to salvage anything from this season.

OUT
Lindsey

Iandolo
Gladwin
Shade
Adeloye
Harries
Brannon
Reed

If Austin hadn't signed I would have binned going to the Grimsby game. It is utter dogshit, no wonder the CG sits in silence, really surprised the crowds haven't dropped. I think we'll be 13th once games in hand have been played.
More than double the number of passes compared to ColU with over half in our own half.

Fuck my life. The end result and manor of it was all so predictable, that’s what’s so tragic about it.

There’s a reason why most weren’t getting excited after beating Northampton. On another day we’d have been two or three down before we got our goal. Fast forward to Colchester, they do go up after just one or two chances, we huff and puff but ultimately don’t create enough.

Lindsay was saying after the Northampton match, he doesn’t understand the negativity from the fans. If he doesn’t understand why, he’s either deluded or just fucking thick (if he’s using it as a deflection tactic, it’s doubly fucking thick to refuse to acknowledge the team’s short comings, alienating fans further). Both instances are reason enough to get rid of him.

Fuck sake Swindon.

Today was the first time that I have lost total confidence that Lindsey can change us round, we have looked inept in so many games recently and thats not just down to the players they look scared to shoot or have a go but seem (and I am guessing this) as told to them by Lindsey to keep the ball at ALL costs rather than taking a chance on scoring, I would rather we had 20 off target shots rather than try to walk the ball into the net.

Take a risk, take a shot, its what wins games, sometimes they go wide sometimes they are saved and some go in, but you dont shoot then you dont score.

Enough of these dull negative tactics now and that is entirely down to the manager and the coaching staff.

I think this is 80% squad related and 20% Manager.

While Lindsey has to shoulder blame for insisting on playing the same way even when it isn't working, and making changes that do not alter the way we attack, who does he change?

Hepburn-Murphy looks a lot like his career stats suggest.  Glimpses of talent, some speed but ultimately not much impact on a game.  Where does he play in the team?

Shade is on a downward trajectory from what was likely an impressive youth career.  

Jephcott, a poacher playing in a team with no support man or plan to get the ball in the six yard box.

Darcy, a poor man's Payne at his best, a youth player looking a bit lost any other time.

Wakeling, someone you develop but someone we have to rely on.

It's all Meg.  I can't put together a starting XI with this squad, no matter the formation, that looks much better.

Without squad changes our best plan is to simply hope we get more wins than losses in tight games.  Probably focus on defending and working on set pieces.  Sure as he'll see nothing to change us on the pitch going forward.  We don't have a team to play long, or wide with proper wingers, or tippy tippy or runs in behind.  Nothing.

Weay have 85% of a good first team but no way of filling in the other 15%.

That ladies and gentleman is why Lindsey should not be in the dugout!

A decent manager gets this side top 3 no question.

How you can go from Mansfield to Stockport and then Northampton to that!

Austin signing a total waste of money as he will get zero service in this team.

Clem- get Lindsey out now and take stat man with him

You may not put together a starting XI that is better, but you design a way to play that creates chances and gets results. I’m convinced the squad is better than the results have been.

I wonder how the post match interview went with Hawes!

There lies the problem the manager doesn't know how to adapt.

I am not.  I think we have been lucky to get the points we have though, in that sense a better Manager may eek a little more juice from it.

We are a pale imitation of last seasons team without attackers.  Therefore our likely position is lower, maybe just outside the play offs.

Lindsey. -   We went there with a game plan  -   Please explain ??.

100% this, play to a teams strengths not try to shoehorn players into a formation you prefer.

Do t entirely disagree with thoughts on players but I do think there is enough skill that if there was a real philosophy other than we have to hold onto the ball for 80% these players could be effective.   If the team had any idea what to do or where the play should go it would make a difference.  It is easy to see they don’t have a clue what each other is thinking. Be it a new coach or this coach changing philosophy it just needs to be done.

Disagree. I think the recruitment has been pretty good and a better manager would be getting more out of the squad.

It would be one of those uncomfortable ones where he thinks the camera is somewhere over his shoulder.
I don’t think they will do anything about Lindsey this season and we will drift to mid table.  Question will then be whether they stick with him next season.  I suspect they will so potentially looking at two wasted seasons and more horrific football to watch

That's pretty unlikely what with it being mathematically impossible. 10th is probably realistic, but either way we're way off the pace and I can't see it improving without major changes.

I am on a rant here.  What are those strengths though?  The only two players I see being able to offer more are Jephcott and Williams.  The latter has to be central amd become the focal point.

The former has to be in the six yard box to realise his ability, but we don't seem to have anyone around them that unleashes that.  Every other player is what they are.  They don't have much if anything else to offer.  We have nobody to play wide left, and even if we did, we do not have the physical midfielders you would need to allow two wingers.  That's Jephcott nullified.

We do not have players who stretch the game and make runs, so Williams looks good on the ball but is a man on an island.

You maybe right but then Clem runs the risk of losing fans through the turnstiles.

But we keep hearing we have a large squad with bags of talent!

We have a large squad of same.  It's not a top 3 squad, nobody can convince me otherwise after seeing them play half a season.

I've said on a few occasions that I prefer quality over quantity!

442 is required all day long, give it Charlie rather than keep Lindsey too

So who's to blame? Lindsey for not extracting a managers worth out the squad, or head of recruitment?

I like that shape with the players we have currently and what we know is coming in. 

It's pretty clear we made two big errors in recruitment.

We recruited for the 352, and nothing else.

We recruited for missed potential amd nothing else bar Jephcott I think.  We did not pay the needs of immediate results enough attention.

Both of these mean we have a squad that looks a bit lacking, in every department.  The 352 didn't work because we lack game changers, so we abandoned that and look a little awkward for any other formation.

Lindsey insists he was involved in recruitment, so he can take some of the shit for that.  He does also look a bit lost about how to change anything.

Something needs to change, Lindsey’s entire career was spent in the lower echelons of non-league and his only managerial experience was at Chatham and its showing. Maybe just maybe this a level way above his ability, he just needs to be put out of his misery.

somebody on Twitter said we are 11th on PPG.
(edit must have been pre-game - I think you are right)

So about 8th or 9th in real terms as not everyone will win their games in hand.

Sounds about right

The position isn't the issue, though it's not ideal. The direction of travel is though

I actually agree with this, nice guy and I did throughly hoped it would work out for him, but I see nothing in this.

I would also put some of this on Sandro too, he recruited for head coach/manager, maybe hes out of his depth too

Without question.  An entire Management team new to their roles is not the ideal backbone if you want to recruit young talent.

@derbystfc Who came up with the 'develop young castoffs to flog on' plan? Sandro was recruited to implement it, so I'm assuming Rob Angus or Clem.

I don't think it's been given a chance to succeed or fail. I don't think it's a quick fix that works out the box.

The obvious question is what does "work" mean? In 2 years if we've made the club sustainable by selling 3 or 4 players is that success from a club perspective.

We know it isn't for us fans.

But if you’re recruiting, primarily, for development and future sale Clem must have bought into it as well.

That’s why nobody else but Lindsey would take the job. With our budget, getting out of L2 should be fairly straightforward with a decent manager .

Was it just me or do the players look like they’ve stopped putting the effort in for SL too? The desire to win balls from some was very questionable. Most notable was Gladwin not challenging a 50/50 header in the oppo box?

Again, if they’re not knowingly downing tools, the inspiration to really fight just isn’t there, so you have to start pointing fingers at SL.

What did he say on the radio?

I’ll be two of them if we don’t get promoted. Happy to relinquish my two ST. Time off work on Saturdays plus the tickets equates to about £1500 per season.

Nothing of particular note, sounded fairly downbeat and mentioned having a young side but agrees we should be finishing in the play off places.

Gladwin was more honest in his assessment (and also referred to the young squad being a possible reason for the inconsistency).

not a great deal.

thought we started too slowly and once they scored it became difficult.

also when asked said he hasn't lost patience with the team, they they are a young team so he has to be patient..

can't remember much else

My nephew highlighted a point.

Lindseys record is now worse then Phil Brown, and Phil Brown had the likes of Ben Purkiss and Luke Norris, not Johnny Williams and Reed

Before today I have really been on the fence with regards to Lindsey, but today for me has really tipped me over the edge, until their goal it looked 1 team in it, they then score and start to defend deep, we then have no answer.

Ok you think give them half time to reset and Lindsey to sort them out and change something, he then brings off Jephcott and and put on the small RHM same formation, same tactics.

The game continues with Colchester defending deep, we then make more subs and they are like for like position wise, keep playing our posetion football, passing the ball from keeper to defender,  getting the ball wide, playing it around then finally try and cross into the box and Colchester are mopping it up.

Lindsey seems unwilling or unable to change formation, change tactics and just try something different to win the game, it seems pass, pass, pass, cross or maybe just pass it into the box and try and get a shot on, then repeat regardless seems his philosophy full stop.

Lindsey last few weeks keeps trotting out the line that these are a young team, a new squad, we have had x amount of debuts, agreed but that is the same for a lot of teams at this level, the squad does look like it has more in it than what they are currently producing, there is no consistency.

The reason that Sandro was brought in was if we change manager (head coach) it is not a complete upheaval, so we cannot use that reason.

It is time for a change, it has not worked with Lindsey if we keep leaving the decision then when do we decide ? February after a few wins few losses ? March ? we then drop down the table, further away from 3rd place and that chance of snatching an automatic place, we need to keep in touch.

Lets change Head Coach, give someone else a chance, it would be good to get someone with a little bit of experience that knows all about the lower leagues, it may backfire but equally at the moment it looks like we may struggle to hold a play off spot once all teams have played their games in hand.







 

HOR can only be in the firing line if we truly have a squad with no talent talent…

Edit to original post.

Problem is the more time the players spend on the training ground the worst they seem to get. I just don’t think his coaching is up to league level.
There’s a difference between being a good coach for technical skills/doing drills and being tactically astute at being able to set up teams. Lindsey may be a good technical coach at teaching Cruyff turns to young players and set up interesting drills but the management side seems way outside his area of expertise.

That's what they said about Chorley.

Sandro has the task of identifying players we can showcase and flog on, and that happens by being successful. They're not in opposition.

it's not quite working.

is that because we'll need to tweak the system? because we are running on a shoestring recruitment? or because it's shite?

is it even  failing (Hutton, Clayton, poss wakeling could be worth money in the future).

very sceptical myself. but I'm not the one who has to finance the club

I’m really not buying this “we’re inconsistent for x reason” line. I’d say we’re very consistent. Consistent formation, consistent types of player, consistent set up…..Consistently turgid.

The variables that have been changing the outcomes (occasionally) have just been who we’re up against and which way the luck flows between the two sides.

I will read back.
My word. Good to get away about 10mins before time to get an earlier exit out of Colchester.

Got in earlier than anticipated so the highlight of the day was catching up with good people before the game.

Only guessed that Jephcott might have been playing when RHB appeared at the start of 2nd half.
The lack of clear cut chance creation is a major issue.

Never been one for calling for managerial change.
Others will do that much better no doubt.

If SL cares then he shouldn't be sleeping well tonight.
It's annoying that there is a 2 week break now.
Can he be trusted to correctly utilise the new CF?
The pressure is on Scott.

That was a load of putrid, insipid bollocks. Lyndsey probably thinks we were unlucky though. As others have mentioned, why does he not get why the fans aren't happy?? Sandro, the coaching staff and most of the players can fuck off as far as I'm concerned.

It may have been the quietest game I've ever been to - the traffic on the A12 was noisier than the crowd at times.

How many Town fans traveled?

did you go boxing Day OST?

There is far too many mistakes that are obviously going to happen at this level to ever make these tactics viable in my opinion. Pointless.

It only takes 50-100 fans to do the same and it becomes noticeable

Sandro, the coaching staff and most of the players can fuck off as far as I'm concerned.

Don’t hold back, why don’t you say what you really feel? 😁

I’m in agreement that the issues this season are as much recruitment as anything - but even with the players we have we should be beating Colchester. Taken in isolation, today is the managers fault

Unimaginable.

At times I think too much is made of what system we need to play and we should get back to basics. The passing possession game is ok as you go up the leagues but at league 2 level more often than not players aren't good enough hence plenty of mistakes. I prefer defenders to clear the ball rather than playing around at the back and wide players/wingers to go past the last defender and get crosses into the box for forwards to attack.

Watched it on i follow mate...much the same I thought. I didn't even react when Walsall got the late winner. I'm not one for getting into the tactical side of things but all I see is a team lacking heart and soul. If you've not got that, there's no point even discussing tactics.

FBT late on for example...picks up the ball about 25 yards out (ish)...he's afraid to have a shot so passes it out wide, except it goes straight into touch. He might as well have had a crack. Utterly timid.

Don't know the number but it looked decent enough to be fair, they just didn't have a lot to make a noise about sadly...

I said it after Walsall and I’ll say it again now.

If you’re going to make a change of manager you do it now.
Two week gap, January window.

If we don’t do it - then there is no point in doing it at all.

We are on the verge on being a team just making up the numbers this season.

Surely you don’t clear or the debt to have a shite manager and empty stadium

Anything aimed at Lindsey at all?

In all fairness Jim, take out the loss of income and I’d probably feel the same. I am utterly fucked off with lining the pockets of the owners (previous it has to be admitted), players (not all) and management over the years for what I consider to be a deficit in terms of enjoyment, won matches and entertaining football. Like many my time served goes back to the early ‘70’s (yes there are those who go back further) when the decline started after the dismantling of the ‘69 squad. The ground is a shithole compared to what it SHOULD be, the fans a lower league Newcastle Utd in terms of support and expectation v results. To me a min of £10k over then next few years to retirement would be a tangible amount to add to my retirement fund. Couple of very, very nice holidays to some places on my bucket list.

So Clem, Aberdeen et al, sort this shit out now. Please.

I have said this season on a number of posts I expect some activity in the Jan window, still do. However, if Charlie is the only addition then I’ll be fucked if that is enough. Unless a radical shift in tactics and formation combine to pull off a Houdinieesque escape from this depressing league.

As for ground redevelopment  :girlgiggle: Where is the money going to come from for that? Bums on seats and extra income, in L2? Yeah right.

Like everyone else I really want SL to succeed. I really do, honestly. There again if he does could he step up to the plate for us in L1?

As Div says now is the time to make a change with a two week break and transfer window to work with otherwise we're stuck until the summer.

The whole "we're in this mess because of the develop to flog on" thing doesn't even wash. Championship and Premiership clubs aren't lining up to buy players because they complete a lot of passes a game. They want winners.

Agree with what you said, but my point was after 20 minutes I thought our atmosphere was equally as dead

Who is he agreeing with? Most would and have said top 3.

Wow

My betting slip does too.

The problem is LL with over half the season gone none of us really know if Lindsey can get the best out of what players he's presented with so how long does Clem trust him.

yeah I agree, you have to be exceptional to be plucked from a mid table division 4 team

Lindsey needs to realise that the chicken balti pies consumed by the hardy away support performed better than his team did today.

As I said earlier. The numbers don’t lie and there are televised performances to back it up. When you look at last season and see how much shit we were in and look what the club achieved with its back to the wall. 12 months later and we are in a worse place but with little or no debt.

they reminds me, where in earth are the chicken balti pies in the DRS? I can only find burgers,  hot dogs and pasty/sausage rolls.

for those in the arkells the gyros van is round the back of the DRS, £8 for ??? (I've not bought)

And looking forward to a mouth watering game against Man City.

This is where I hope that Morfuni has some form of independent football advice. He admits himself he is relatively new to this. If Sandro is his football guy, we could be in trouble, because he’ll defend his appointment of Lindsey, and keep him on. The next few days could be pivotal for Morfuni’s time at the club. Make a good appointment, and we could get back on track, and he gets a good asset to sell when he wishes in the future. If we are passive and retain Lindsey, then we’re only going one way.

500

Cheers Shaun & 4D

This team really is the antithesis of the Paolo era league two team, who were ironically the type of football SL described. Fast paced, fast moving, or whatever bollocks he come out with that was clearly lip service.

This is lethargic, apathetic, sleep walking football.

Indeed.

Sandro knows Leam Richardson from Wigan. If he's got a backbone, it's time to act.

Well yes exactly...As I said, watching Town at the moment is a very dull/souless experience with the fans having next to nothing to get excited about...and SL just doesn't get it.

Not that I noticed. There was actually a chorus of 'Lyndsey give us a wave' at one point in the first half, which he did. Other than that, a few boos at the end and (I think) at half time. All very mild really...Don't know if he came over the fans at the end as I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I certainly wasn't hanging around to applaud that pile of garbage.

There were quite a few on here, myself included, who thought the Lindsey appointment was the cheap option particularly after it took so long to appoint a manager. Many more of us said the first 10 games would give a good indication of where we were going and at that point I think it is fair to say we were split down the middle as to whether the manager/team were good enough to get us out of this football graveyard. We are half way through the season now and I think it’s clear from tonight’s posts that we have had enough of an inept manager and increasingly crap team performances.
Surely, those in the higher echelons of our beloved club can see this as well and need to act now.

I don't think he was appointed because he was the cheap option. He might well *be* the cheap option, but he was appointed because he'd work within the Sandro model, regardless of price. We did ourselves out of a bit of compensation from Charlton by giving him the job, presumably.

Dont know about the DRS but stopped selling them in the Town End.  Can only get pasties and sausage rolls now as far as I am aware.  There is a burger van outside which is accessible at half time, but still no balti’s.
Maybe we should start a bring back the balti campaign.

If he got the job because he had worked within the Sandro model why did it take so long to appoint him, also there were rumours others had turned us down so he wasn't the first choice🤔

The fallback excuse of injuries has now gone I do not see any hiding place this evening for Lindsey.  No sign of post match excusefest yet either.  

As it goes I think squad has potential.  The refusal to get the ball into the box quicker is the issue.  With no height to speak of up top the only hope you have is to get the ball in the box quickly.  It’s blindingly obvious yet Lindsey insists on us passing it for no purpose or end product.

Time for change as it’s a free hit for a new coach this year as season’s virtually done even at this early stage.  

The squad has potential if used properly we are underperforming.

He will have got the job because the hiring triumverant fucked up the hiring process

cheers, there was talk in the AB minutes they were back (September/October) but I never found them.

maybe they're gone again.

Did have them  100% at the start of the season then they just disappeared.

The season definitely isn't done. A new manager can get us up.

The most frustrating part about it. Nothing will change, we'll lose our chance and sleep walk to lower mid table like we have been all season.

I wonder… Garner to come back with SL demoted to number two foreseeing a few coaching casualties.

Club socials have fallen silent...

That wouldn't surprise me one bit plus Garner seems thicker skinned than Lindsey.

Trains are fucked up at Paddington.
Next one back to Swindon @ 21:43

If in doubt have a couple of beers I guess.
The things we do for love eh.

Drown your sorrows Bob :pint:

Would the fan base accept this solution.

Garner can fuck right off.

Yes he did. He walked up to the ref and appeared to moan about lack of added time (He said something and the ref looked at his watch and seemed to disagree with whatever Lindsey said).

Then Lindsey walked towards the travelling fans, clapped a few times, the turned and walked to the changing rooms shaking his head.

No! No! No! Absolutely not! Had his chance last season and cocked it up

This

This totally.
McDonald is a prime example his passing again today was woeful, but his basic defending is acceptable. We want to play football but we're simply not good enough. The management should see that and the tactics should accommodate the ability. FBT was waving to the fans at the final whistle, also Reed stood for a while on his own clapping, is this them gone?

Do they usually post more than a match report after a loss?

it's an away game, I assume they are simply traveling back .

There is no smoke emerging from the county ground chimneys

Decent turn out today how many did we take?
Even convinced the wife to come, safe to say she won't be back again.

Cheers Lou and hats off to all of you that travelled today.

4D posted earlier we had 500 there.

Aah OK thanks.
Just got home and didn't want to read through all the posts as it was bad enough watching so I am not reading back
Cheers again

I went to the old Layer Road ground  years ago on a Friday night and we also lost🤣

Football fans are fickle, yeah it would upset more than a few I’m sure but if produced an up turn in performance and results people soon forgive and forget. My first away game since Walsall away last game of last season. Can’t compare the 2 in any way.

The other thought to sacking him now is that it would actually work out for Lindsey. He can always say how unfair it was that we was sacked when we was in the playoffs.

(https://media3.giphy.com/media/hvq8ONQhQ1XLq/giphy.gif)

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/match-reaction-scott-lindsey-reflects-on-colchester-defeat/

A very pissed off SL...
Trouble is he talks a good story. Just can't understand why he won't or can't change the game tactics.
Remember Garner had the same issues and he managed to get a different formation at times last year.

Extremely disappointing match today. Looked completely devoid of ideas for all our possession. We really should be winning games like today. A change of management will be necessary to have any of shot of the autos. We are so inconsistent, it is very frustrating. We really don’t look like scoring at all at the moment.

Some comparisons to our position this time last year:
After 25 games last season we were 6th on 41 points. We are 6th after 25 games this season with 38 points, but with most of the league having a game in hand on us.

This stage last season we had scored 40 and conceded 31. So far this season, we have scored 28 and conceded 25.

After 25 games last season we had won 3 home games in the league compared to 5 this season.

Overall, home form is still a concern. It picked up slightly after January last season, though we took slightly more risks after January at home which would allow for more free flowing football such as the Walsall 5-0 game. This season, we have won at home in spite of the style of play, and have dropped points to some god awful sides at home such as Crewe, A.F.C. Wimbledon and Walsall.

The killer instinct between last seasons side and this seasons is night and day. Whilst the defence was more leaky last season, it was never too much of a concern due to the threat we posed going forward. This season, if we concede one, we are effectively out of a chance of winning due to the lack of times we manage to score more than once.

Whilst we are at a similar standing as last seasons team at the same point in the season, you could see a lot more potential in that team. Something has to change, however tbink Lindsey has done the bare minimum which will probably keep him in the job.

we barely hung on last season. it was all about the last 6 games.

we won 5 we scored 15 and conceded 5.

I remember January and February being poor, but if I can count it was w5 d3 l4 i.e. 18/36 points.

our last 12 this season is .. w5 d3 l4. we've hit mediocre form early. let's hope we hit good form early too

The problem with stating this team is not as good as last seasons sums is that last seasons wasn't really good enough.  It was a great season considering the summer and finances etc.  It was eow par for any other time for STFC, not reaching at least a play off final in Div 4.

Good comment on Twitter about watching STFC

It’s like having a wank without the climax

Don’t know much about The Lower League Look blog but they tweeted

‘ SL ⏰ 🥾 👀 #STFC’

I'd say it's more effort and less enjoyable than that and certainly costs a lot more.

So, basically it’s pretty much the same as last season but Payne & McKirdy dragged us forward.

A lot of the complaints about this team is the style of play and lack of cutting edge - let’s not forget this time last year we were all saying the same thing about Garners team - true in both instances.

Don’t know much about The Lower League Look blog but they tweeted

‘ SL ⏰ 🥾 👀 #STFC’

With due respect to them I’m confident everyone on this forum has already drawn that conclusion.

What is more I have no real knowledge about SL previous football life regarding any playing activity but mark my words, as of yesterday there arrived a potential fox in the SL henhouse. Or the shadowy figure of the grim reaper if you like.

Put into context I doubt our ‘head coach/manager’ has played at the level of or been coached to the level of a certain CA and I’m in no doubt sooner, rather than later he’ll let not only SL know but Digger & Aberdeen too.

⏰🧨🪓🚪

Yes, I think the difference this year is that we don't have anyone (apart from Williams) with that little bit of magic that can unlock a defence with a mazy run.

We are therefore stuck trying to play a pinpoint accurate ball from outside of the box into small strikers that are generally covered by a set zone marking defence.

I think the main difference is that last season we had stellar away form which took the heat off somewhat from the dismal home form.

Now it’s dismal both home and away.

We cans speculate all we want.

However, it’s January and the window is open. We have the best part of two weeks before our next game.

If Lindsey isn’t gone today then I think he’s here for the duration of the season.

They’d have to have a replacement in mind otherwise the ‘process’ of getting a new manager that wants the job under the restrictions we apparently have in place would go past the window.

What restrictions? They’re not that inflexible if we’ve just signed Charlie Austin.

Hopefully an announcement today. Best for everyone, including Scott Lindsey. I don’t want to see the crowd get toxic against him, and we’re there now I think.

Havent read back but if this has been posted my apologies.

(https://i.postimg.cc/R0FjSmZM/323355330-894216048401337-7482804187448307029-n.jpg)

Restrictions on style, development over winning, pass pass pass

…well, waiting any longer to make the change will only make it worse

Yep. Soonest mended

Yet people still defend this team/SL. Embarrassing. Standards are well and truly in the bin.

Last 8 stats.....

P8 W2 D2 L4 F5 A8

6 of those teams outside the top 10.
Half of these games we have failed to score.

Not good enough is it. Needs to go

No surprises to see the usual cucks on here semi defending it all by drawing comparisons to last season. Last season we had a fucking embargo, 3 week pre season and still managed to build a better squad than this shower of shit. At least 5 or 6 of the match day 18 are nowhere near good enough. That’s a big issue. There’s one player in this current team that walks into last seasons team and that’s FBT. Nobody else. Downgrades absolutely everywhere. Macdonald pathetic, spineless centre half. Lavenier and Hutton nowhere near the level of Kesler Hayden and Hunt. Simpson and Davison clearly offered more up top. Darcy? 😂 need I say more? Useless. Bottles tackles and has no bite. Brynn I could see an argument for, but Wollacott was unreal first half of season hence the World Cup selection. We miss Payne and mckirdy so much. We replaced them with Darcy and Wakeling. Pwahahhahahahhaa

It’s fucking disgraceful watching us. Yesterday was a low. Colchester are so bad. What does that say about us? Players ain’t playing for him anymore, clear to see. Players ain’t happy with him or the environment. Gladwins interview was telling. Where was captain Angus? Ronald Macdonald would be more of a captain to this football club than Angus Macdonald. Not a leader at all. Silent on the pitch. Another pathetic performance from him. Will go down in the Olly Lancashire school of captains of this football club. Charlie Austin will run this dressing room, and whether it’s official or not, he will be captain and call all the shots. We need it. Need a voice and a proper manager to take charge and ownership, both in the dressing room and in dugout, as right now we have neither.

Circus of a coaching set up with Day and Gunning. All of them including mildenhall just screaming and shouting for 90 mins waving arms. All of them can go (I get most will want Mildy to stay)  Get a manager in with a clean slate. No secret Andrew Crofts at Brighton was number 1 choice. He bailed at last min, We panicked and made cheapest appointment available.

If Lindsey loves this club how he says he does, then do the right thing and walk, today.  2 weeks to get a new man in. But this is Swindon town so I fully expect SL to be here in 2 weeks, tell us how good the lads are in training, how the vibe is great, how he doesn’t care about outside noise and how clem backs him.

I’d acquire Liam Manning on a six month contract with Charlie his number two, I’d hope he’d have an impact similar to that he had at Franchise in the early stages. Young progressive coach needing to bounce back. Wouldn’t be much to lose for us or him.

So a point a game, carry that forward with 21 games to go gives us a whopping 59 points. There is a potential 66 points up for grabs from now on which would max out at 104 points. Minimum for a certain play off slot has to be 80 based on last season though 77 was enough. So we can ‘afford’ to drop 24 points or 8 losses if you prefer if we win 13 and draw none, don’t forget that 3 draws = a win 😁

I have given you an imaginary £50 to have a flutter on us to go up or go out on the piss 🤔🤔🤔

Spot on. Mildenhall’s time is up as well. Complete clean up required.

Unless there is a stand out manager, coaching staff and medical team kicking a can down the road waiting for a phone call who have we got to choose from if his time really is up?

Agree on manning.

Had decent sized championship clubs after him at MK. Struggled the season after like many do.

Wellens perfect example, unreal job here, struggled after at two very different clubs, now running away with league with Orient.

it may be revisionism in my part, but while that's the bulk of the problem I'd also add we are missing a focal point up front.

there are far too many games like yesterday (jephcott) and Walsall (wakeling) where the centre forward spends all game trying hard but ultimately in a hiding to nothing.

Simpson was a power house at the end of his spell, a physical nightmare for defenders but not in the air or pace. just power

Davison I'm not going to pretend I was a massive fan of. But he did provide more of a focal point.

Both had backup from the likes of McKirdy and Barry of course.

This year we seem to be trying the same thing (I think) but end up with the loan gunman who may as well watch from the stands for all the service and support they get.

(this is turning into a ramble)

what the hell is the attacking plan? I assume Williams and a.n. other are supposed to be getting up along side and providing support?

but the much criticised speed of attack seems to negate that and it ends up far too often with a mass of players around the box, with many many defenders.

Maybe I'm changing this narrative to fit my own thoughts. But I'm struggling to think of many quick breaks that stretch the opposition or if position.

we know Austin won't fix this. We surely have to adapt to our strengths

I’m sure Fraser could support GK’s in the interim. What’s Phil Smith doing lately? Manning or A.N Other would have his own idea on coaches anyway.

What's he done, other than being guilty by association?

He's the keeper coach. The keeper is playing well.

But I have to confess I don't watch the dugout much during a game. Subs and aggro only.

I'm defending him for the tremendous job he did when working under the worst possible conditions last year,  the way he's been loyal to the club and the keepers playing well.

What's your reasons?

Yes no doubt he has been a loyal servant. No particular reasons - I feel we need a complete clean slate. Others may feel that Mildy acts too much the Neanderthal like the others bellowing over one another on a matchday.

It’s time to strike. We’re somehow still 6th, got 2 weeks before our next game and just signed austin. We can turn the season around now but it has to be now. The Lindsey experiment has failed and dumb and dumber can go too.

😡
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8iHe_BbpxjI

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R0QFR5dfFyM

Thinking back to the game yesterday, The coaches were all up on their feet, waving arms and probably shouting something, Lindsey, just stood behind them, closer to the dugout, saying nothing. It should be the other way around.

The guy with longish hair, wrote something on his notepad, for what good it did, could have been his shopping list.

The interview says much, we go back to the training ground and dust ourselves off and go again.

Sorry SL, you had my support, it wained, now its totally gone.

Watching the post match interview Lindsey looked a broken man to me which isn't nice to see but if he's not upto the job then Clem needs to take action.

Genuine question - does anybody on here want the current manager and coaches to be kept on, or know anybody that does?

Maybe someone can create a poll.

I think Gladwins interview showed that SL has pretty much lost the dressing room. We all know that the players from last season are a shadow of themselves this year. That’s probably because they don’t have confidence in the system

So is he no longer a good enough goalkeeping coach? Has Brynn got worse under him?

What are your thoughts?

I have no insightful thoughts on Mildenhall. He seems to be loyal and a respected goalkeeping coach. We rely on loan keepers, so need someone in that position who other clubs are happy to have coach their upcoming keepers.

I haven't listened to the Gladwin interview. I'll do that now.

I don't disagree that there are a number of players that are worse than last year's crop. Others have already said that the main difference is Payne and McKirdy.

Not so fast. NMH asked you first.

I think the club needs completely fresh leadership. I didn’t realise my opinion is so highly valued.

We hear Sandro saying our model is to get young unproven players here to develop and sell in buts what's happened to our own academy players under 18's etc as over the last ten years we've had hardly anything come through and progress if you exclude Twine.

I personally think it’s time to make the change.

I’d be on the phone to big Dunc’ Ferguson asap

They get sold before they get near our first team.

That's the problem they aren't given a chance and probably not ready to go to the bigger clubs where most end up disappearing into the sunset without trace.

.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwelrtb8Oho

well looking at lindseys  managerial  career saids it all out of his depth.

It’s not. But you were asked a question and you’ve a lot to say.

Or they are just not good enough for the 1st team

I have enjoyed reading the healthy debate over the last day or so.  However, I think that SL isn't going anywhere. I strongly suspect that he has the job for the whole of this season.

I don't know, if you were Clem, who has put a fair share of wedge into the club, and work hard on building trust in the fan base and attract a new fan base to the club, a look on socials would say something has to happen to keep that fair will in place. He also doesn't strike me as someone who takes fools lightly.

Gladwin has said 5 times there we were rubbish and didn't create anything, why has the interviewer insisted on saying we have played well and dominated

Or one of the more recent lads that looked like he could make it was sold to Bournemouth, nothings changed. Bid comes in from a big club and he will be sold. Simple.


Edit, I don’t think bmuff are at all a big club, but that’s unfortunately where we are right now. A club higher up the food chain is better suited.

If I was Clem I wouldn’t touch ‘socials’
Also, not sure we’ve attracted a new fan base. Last season probably reinvigorated a few but can’t imagine we’ve attracted many new fans.

Some of the goalkeepers we've signed over the past few seasons have been questionable we may as well had kept Will Henry as back up.

We have an owner and CEO with good intentions. We mustn’t lose sight of that. The CG purchase will be a progressive step, and separate this ownership from any other. Another huge step forward if/when it happens. The Morfuni “era”, if we call it that, is being let down by poor signings, and a punt in appointing Lindsey, after a seemingly botched process. Every chair in the country gets managerial or DOF appointments wrong, but we’re lucky to have him rather than Crawley or Southend’s owners. For the sake of his own reputation at Swindon, he needs to get a new man in now though and not let this fester.

Yet another game away at feeble opposition where we've effectively given their keeper a day off. And this, to me is the problem with SL and the way we setup. Yes we have a lot of the ball, yes we have competent players but similarly to the tagline for this forum its 80% football, 25% lack of cutting edge. Jeff Cott is a poacher extraordinaire at this level and appears to get 1 clear cut chance every half a dozen games. I can't really see Charlie Austin doing much more in this side, I imagine he'll get more pissed off on the pitch than LJ.

I was willing to give the coaching setup a chance but I think we've seen far too many games where we're as creative as a blank sheet of A4 paper. I'm no football coach but I imagine being able to setup play is easy between the boxes and the hardest part to keep the ball out of the goal and put it into the opponents net. Sadly this appears to be where SL falls down.

In Jephcott, Wakeling and Charlie Austin you've a trio of players that should offer goals at this level. I just can't see SL getting it out of them. Having Jephcott miles away from the rest of the midfield is naieve and cowardly. SL said we'd be playing attacking football through the thirds, unfortunately I don't think he's delivered anywhere near that. He's not tactically astute enough and I think the board need to hold their hands up and admit its not good enough and make the change. I'd be hoping that behind the scenes this may already have been taking place as managerial changes can take ages and we need to recruit properly this month.

We conceded after 30 minutes yesterday against a really poor team leaving the manager over an hour to sort things out.

That's why I posted "game over" before the end of the first half. So predictable.

Looking at the Northampton highlights, I would say we got a very lucky result.

 i think that the club will wait and see how the CA experiment works out over the next 2-3 games.

It's not nice moaning about the same things but 25 games into the season it's hard to see things changing.

That was poor yesterday - we wouldn’t have scored if we played until midnight.

However there have been some questionable conclusions drawn on here
1. “The players aren’t putting effort in for SL” - anyone who saw the Northampton game and the huge defensive effort on Thursday should know that is incorrect. (I watch both games on iFollow - those who went to both games are better placed to judge but in my view we wouldn’t have won that game on Thursday without digging deep.
2. “Sacking SL will miraculously transform this squad into automatic promotion contenders”
 - as Robert T pointed out (and others) this squad is unbalanced in several areas - lack of a focal point up front being one. I also agree with the poster who says that only a couple of this year’s squad would make last season’s starting 11. It’s clear that we need some significant reshaping of the squad in January, as well as retaining Brynn and FBT if possible.
 - Secondly, apart from a tongue in cheek suggestion of a return for Garner - none of those arguing for him to go have named a viable alternative. Without that, it’s ridiculous just to say “SL must go”.
3. Clem should take a big decision like this based on social media posts - that is the road to anarchy - next they’ll be saying the team selection should be done by fan poll.
4. “Charlie Austin will transform our season” - without a doubt he will generate a buzz of expectation, and probably sell a few more shirts. His experience should also be important in what is a young and inexperienced squad.
However I had a look at his record in the premier league / EFL (ie excluded pre STFC and Brisbane) according to Wiki
-  2009-2016 played 218, goals 117 - so a goal very 1.83 games
- 2016-2022 played 165, goals 39 - a goal every 4.23 games.
That doesn’t take account of the level played at (eg harder to score in the PL) nor the number of starts v sub appearances.
I think he will score goals in L2 if given the chances - probably would have got on the end of some crosses yesterday and buried the headed chance that Wakeling had. But it’s not certain he will do that.

It's hard to cone up with names for managers when Clem will probably go for someone relatively unknown again rather than what the bookies put out there.

There’s a couple of out of work managers who’d fit the club’s profile if they still want to keep on that road.

Artell and Manning

Not going to lie after Garner & Lindsey I want someone with a bit more fire in the belly and shithousery in their arsenal.

As, I’ve said (probably the last maybe 4 times) Duncan Ferguson.
No idea how realistic that is, he’s left Everton to take up management but hasn’t as of yet.

And Bring Anthony Grant as a coach/player coach, that shit housary is needed!

Yeah, a coach with no coaching experience is just what we need.

A coach, not a manager, just some nouse to pass on to the younger members of the squad

I never said manager?

The team does need some oomph

I think we tend to 'shithouse' too much. But, the problem is, not getting into a position to 'shithouse' often enough as we can't score enough goals.

Think that's a great idea !

We're all pissed off with how things are, but other than withdraw our support (which none of us want to do !) what else can we do ?  I don't have a clue how to arrange a poll, but would be interesting to see one, so can someone give it a go !

I know that Clem and senior officials won't trawl through the socials, but I imagine the press officer will, as he said as much the other week !

If there was an overwhelming poll result wanting the manager changed, I'm sure it would filter back to higher echelons - whether it would have any influence is an entirely different matter !

I didn't know how to create a poll myself but there is one now live if you haven't see it.

Are you referring to the one on the 'current management' thread  ?
I think one set up like the MoM poll would be better and have more impact !

Yes that's the one set up by singingiiify.

Keep up !!.

This. Although I think there is a player in there with Darcy in the right system. I'm prepared to be wrong on that though.

Yeah, loyal servant and keeper is playing well. See no reason to change it unless the incoming manager wants his own guy.

That was also a team willing to attack us and open themselves up. If a team scores first and tries to defend it, its just waiting the inevitable.

With the lack of pace in our play I'd play Darcy as a "wide striker"

Why the speech marks? Paul Hart would tell you to your face that counts as three strikers.