Thetownend.com

There was a request for a poll. lets gauge the townend forum on the current management situation.

Wholesale changes please.

CA 32 is not going to put up with a non-league approach to attacking coaching.  Need to bring in an experienced attacking coach, it may be down to change coaching staff or changing the head coach meaning wholesale changes.

Cheers posting the poll my vote is asking for change.

If we want better we need to change it up.
However, if we want to change it - it needs to be done now.
Anything later & it’s pointless

Correct. Although I fear there will be a ‘give him a few games with Austin in the team first’ approach from Clem. Really hope I’m wrong, Lindsay simply is not good enough

We can't solely rely on Austin he could get injured at any time then what🤔

New manager for me.

old numb nuts here clicked 'give him the season' by accident  which is very ironic considering my recent posts.
-1 / +1 on those totals.

would be nice to hear from anyone that has voted to give him the season and see their views for sticking to balance everything out.

Just looking at the Pre-match Colchester interview where Lindsey talks about Austin. Fast forward to 6 mins and is it just me that isn't convinced when he says it's great to have him on board.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3-uHlAL0X18&t=330s

I was less convinced by the comments after tbf. I don't think he was the one with the issue

The only issue I can see is that unless we already gave someone lined up by the time a new manager is appointed the transfer window will be closed so he will be stuck with the players he may not want.

I have a feeling the change will be made around the time the club is asking for ST renewals.

FWIW I have been in the give him time camp, but think enough is enough now and it’s time for change

The entire set-up is tinpot. Lindsay has zero tactical nouse: he's unable to get the best out of the players nor play them in an effective formation. He cowers behind the other three who just bark and shout all match. Hardly surprising when you look at his managerial experience; this was a fear in the summer. Mildenhall is GK coach - he shouldn't be shouting involved in team tactics. And Sandro once won a few football bets - how that makes him qualified to pick and choose players, I don't know...

I'd like all of them gone and for Clem to press the restart button.

He should never have been given the job in the first place.

People close to the club have told me Clem is ruthless, interested to see if that streak extends to the management team or just the unseen back office staff.

Clem was behind the signing of Austin,signing a former Premier League top scorer is going to ask questions about current coaching. Lindsey and co. should be concerned.  From the interview, I get the impression that signing Austin is a two-edged sword for the coaches, if he isn't immediately successful heads will roll.  Signing Austin presents a challenge to their authority.

I don’t like anyone being sacked but having sat through some of the dross served up this season, there is no alternative if we have ambitions for promotion

No change for me, I think the current model of a sustainable football club is noble and deserves 5 years to make it work. We were going bust 2 years ago and Clem saved us. A couple of bad results shouldn’t deflect from the bigger picture.

A couple of bad results??

Interesting I see what you’re saying. I just don’t think that the current set up has the right personnel to develop players. The model works by investing in youth players to develop and improve but under Lindsey who can we say has improved this season? Last year there was noticeable improvements in players: mckirdy, Payne, Simpson to name a few. Think fingers can be pointed at everywhere, hopefully Sandros Excel sheets can work out why the misses were misses and over time that system can improve too. Just wish we had an interesting team to watch if we’re not going to get results.

Just trying to give a different opinion I guess from the high level of negativity on this forum. I went to Scunthorpe last year amazed that we had a team and last season was fun, however, we’ve gone from years of cowboy ownership to a bloke that seems to be trying to do the right thing in the long term. I don’t buy the argument that we need to get out of this division this year.

So we keep with SL playing boring football with few shots on goal each game. Crowds drop to 6k, how is that sustainability going then?

I see your point but if the club isn’t moving forward then what’s the point?

Like, if we just sit on this division, pass it around, win some, lose some and sell a few players on to make ourselves sustainable - is that acceptable for people? Some maybe but for me it would be boring as fuck & I’d have absolutely no interest in supporting a football club whose #1 priority wasn’t winning football matches and getting promoted.

Sure, I agree we don’t have to get out of L2 this year but quietly frankly we need to start moving forward. There is only so much enjoyment you can get out of L1 & L2 and quietly frankly after what is it now 22-23 years of the bottom 2 division I’m sick of it.

When was the last time our crowds dropped to 6k?

If I was Sandro I would be looking to see how the likes of Accrington, Burton, Cheltenham, Fleetwood & Morcambe have been more sustainable in league one than us over recent seasons as they're obviously doing something right.

So you are saying that if we keep playing like we are we will keep 8k a week grinning and paying their money?
I have a season ticket and I can barely be arsed to turn up at the moment.

Fucking hell. They’re all relegation fodder in L1.

Agreed but most have been in league longer than us recently

This may be an unpopular opinion but, absent a very wealthy benefactor, our future lies in league one/two. Anything other than the odd Yeovil style stint in the championship is out of reach.

I'm still on the fence.

My head says we had a lot to rebuild again this summer. It's difficult for experienced recruiters to get it right first time. That we are not miles off the playoffs and that one window just isn't enough time. experience will come and with it improvements

my heart (and eyes) say we are going backwards, we have a manger who seems pig headed and inflexible in approach and it's costing us results. Then there's the ugly style of play that's boring us.

do I think we'll make it - no
do I feel uneasy calling for his head given the above - yes.

I think the change will come once the playoffs can't be reached. But will we just get another coach brought in to 'showcase talent'.

Context

Last season Barnsley had the lowest budget in the Championship - £15m

No, what I am saying is ‘when did our crowds last drop to 6k?’

Probably a realistic view. there's a lot to get in place to think about championship football. Which will take a lot of cash

I don't think sustained league 1 football with the odd flurry it's too much to ask though

Doesn’t mean we can aim to / shouldn’t try to get out of the bottom 2 divisions.

2017-18
2018-19

there are a number of games in the mid 6k, 17-18 had some sub 6k gates

20-21 had an average of 2k :)

Go and look it up if you want, you seem to have time on your hands

Does every thread need to become this childish ffs

He started it

Agreed that there does seem something wrong with a club that gets 9-10k gates being out-performed by tin pot clubs in L1 like Burton, just willing to give Clem and his project more time. Last season = survival, this season = consolidation, next year to push on.

On a different topic, ou est Le Duke? Always liked his generally well-informed and balanced posts and respected his cool when replying to posters challenging his views in an aggressive manner.

Don't worry, we can be outperformed by tin pot sides in L2 as well, Barrow go ahead of us with a win today...

This is getting confusing.

For a fair few weeks now posters have been saying over and over that SL must go as he isn't getting the team playing well enough, yet over the last couple of games it shifted to the players not being good enough, so which is it?

If its the squad there doesn't seem much point changing manager as it will still be the same players? And at this point of the season who is out there that we could realistically get in, no point sacking him then spending 4 weeks fucking around trying to find someone better and who wants the job. It's not like we are facing relegation and it's worth a flyer on the off chance.

Whatever it is we don't seem to have any sort of plan or shape, what's the point of having a poacher striker in Jephcott, then signing another one, if we aren't going to play it into the box, as I have said before I would be well fucked off if I were Jephcott and we suddenly change to accommodate Austin after he has been crying out for service all season.

FWIW we may as well get rid and do it quickly, it's not going to help anyone with all the toxicity sloshing about.

I’m sure Power had a 5 year plan. So you another 5 year plan? Sorry but STFC should not be content with bobbling around L2 with the odd year in L1. 5 year plans won’t renew season tickets in a couple of months that’s for sure.

I think most people think it's a bit of both (to differing degrees, for sure), but one is much easier to change than the other. A better manager gets more out of this squad, and I'm sure Lindsey could get more our of a better squad. But they're not equally easy to address.

Pee Lowers plans was to extrapolate more next season than this season while pulling the wool over Shawns & everyone else’s eyes, which he was uniquely successful in doing. His Agincort/Waterloo moment was covid 19 wherein his rolling five year plan unravelled and he found himself fucked on so many levels that destroying the club was his only option..

Obviously different people will have different opinions but for me - the players are good enough (and personally I think a lot of them are capable of improving)

It’s just the attacking players. We seemingly have three central strikers in Jephcott, Wakeling and now Austin but the wide strikers in 433 don’t do enough, offer enough. In part as those players aren’t good enough or have be played there despite it not being their position. We also lack a central midfielder who will drive the ball forward like Payne did (fwiw I think Darcy could be that player but this season you are seeing the difference between a 22 year old with 60 odd games under his belt before this season vs a 27 year old with 300+ games under his belt)

I’ve got the point where I genuinely believe I could pick a better formation / starting XI than Lindsey which to be anyway, indicates that’s where the problem is.

People can and will differ on that though…

Whilst I’m not one who believes there actually is a promotion squad here, I do think they can perform better. You can’t tell me a team with Reed, Williams, Gladwin and Jephcott should be looking that poor against Colchester. I think SL is tactically inept for a FL manager, however, he’s done enough to stay on I think, though another couple of poor results and the pressure will certainly mount. If it was up to me, I’d get rid and try someone else just as it seems obvious to me we won’t finish top 7 under current management, and realistically we aren’t going down, so a change could either mean an upturn in form and maintain a spot in the top 7, whilst equally could see us continue to be inconsistent and float around mid table, which I think is what we’ll do anyway if we stick with SL. Might as well twist instead of sticking…

Williams I think would be much more effective dropping back in midfield and playing the ‘Payne’ role

I don't know what the right thing to do is.

I know that the last few performances I've seen have been poor. I don't think the players are all that good. I think I would categorise them as workmanlike at best. As a squad, they are probably stronger (because we had an incredibly weak 12-24) than last year's, but individually they are poorer. They are also inconsistent and inexperienced.

We have noone to unlock defences (like McKirdy could) and the strikers are not as good (at what we need them to do) as what we had last year - And I thought Davison was poor. Jephcott and Wakeling I think are poachers, when we need a target man. Jephcott is the better of the two, but I think he and RHM would benefit from having a target man to play off of.

I think I might be inclined to see what Sandro and Lindsey bring in during the January window and give them the rest of the season. But, I can see an argument for making the change now too.

I've consistently said since early on that we look like a lower mid table team.  That is partly the lack of recruitment of a mckirdy type replacement, someone who travels with the ball and turns defenders, but mostly it's the management.

We are poor going forward, we can all see that and too easy to set up against.  No matter how poor the opposition are all they have to do is defend with numbers and win a couple of set pieces, over and over the same thing happens without any real change in approach.

None of the players seem to have improved, some look decent but are being played out of position, others poor but alternative options aren't tried.

I'm all for long term planning and giving people a chance, and I want him to succeed, but if someone isn't up to the job then there's no point in carrying them longer than you have to.

I don’t interpret it as negativity. I interpret it as people with standards and ambition to be better than this.

I think now is a good time to change, if we are going to do it.  Maybe see if Charlie fancies a go with a more experienced person brought in to help him and use it as a way of galvanising the support beyond the summer.  While I think the squad is the bigger problem, and the management structure in general, Lindsey has had more than his fair share of luck so far which likely can't last all season.  May as well have someone the fans like chancing their arm if we won't change the whole thing mid season.

On the squad side - the following are simply not good enough for top 3 challenging teams as players you rely on:

MacDonald, Harries, Brennan, Khan, Darcy, Shade, Adeloye, Hepburn-Murphy, Iandolo, Aguiar, and more

Not saying none of them can be developed.  Development players should be the sprinkle on top though.

Jephcott - we simply do not appear to have a team with players to feed this type of player.
Wakeling - good talent, type of player you give games to during this season and gradually introduce them
Hutton & Lavinier - both seem good prospects, neither should play left back, both are risky at right back without some more solid players around to marshall them.  Clayton has looked a prospect as well.

Williams, Brynn, FBT, Gladwin and Reed can all make a case for being in a top 3 squad although Gladwin and Williams together has always looked a bit ropey in terms of legs.

Overall it's a pretty poor squad for NOW.  I get the idea of long term, but this is D4!!  With the budget likely available from the crowd size we should be able to have far more players of top 3 calibre and few less punts.

How does our squad compare with Orient, Northampton & Stevenage's as a comparison. Anyone got that knowledge?

I do wonder whether anyone on here has detailed knowledge of each and every squad in league two.  Without it, it must be difficult to say where our current squad sits within the league as a whole.

you get a feeling of where we sit by the league table and watching when we play the opposition!

unless you mean you think we are underperforming.

Under performing exactly that. We have a few players that could/have played at a higher standard just wondering what Stevenage have other than a vey goal and motivated manager.

How do you compare squads? The only factor is how they’re performing. The 3 you mentioned are obviously performing hugely better than ours. Be interesting to compare budgets and salaries, I suppose. Orient’s is probably in excess of ours, Cobblers similar and Stevenage way below.

Stevenages top scorer has 9 goals in the league - and most of us were delighted to see him go all those years ago.

So my point is, how other teams squads look on paper is irrelevant, it’s about how they’re performing.

Change, It's the stubbornness that gets me. If he actually tried changing the system/formation at certain times and be less predictable ill would back him.
Best managers are not afraid of change and counter against the opposition. 

Yeah its partly this. Before Williams went to the WC we looked decent, and played Williams behind Wakeling/Jephcot, in a 433 or 442 diamond i guess. With Williams away inexplicably he went to a back 5, something we hadnt used since the start of the season, we had terrible results. Now with Williams/Wakeling/Jephcot back available he hasnt returned to our best set up still?

All seems very bizarre to me. The only constant is Iandolo has to play. Which itself is laughable.

While I have now moved to the 'we need to change it' camp, I do see that we clearly lack a few players to balance the team, and sacking the manager now may not help Sandro's recruitment.

Surely quality players wont join not knowing who is going to be in charge, so you wonder if they will hold onto Lindsey while the new players are brought in (obviously has to agree to said players) then after a few games if results and performances don't improve then perhaps Clem will pull the leaver, its a risk but I have a feeling that's what will happen.

So we are all agreed that something must change.

Do we;

A. - Change the Manager and back room staff.

B. - Change the Manager and keep Mildy and Co.

C. - Keep the Manager and get rid of Mildy and Co.

D. - Change the lot.

If D, who would anyone suggest as our new Manager.

Our keepers have been decent the last two seasons and Mildy is a Town boy. I wouldn’t be against him staying.

Ultimately I don’t know what role he plays on the sidelines because when I do watch Swindon I watch the game rather than the bench.

Other than that, I wouldn’t fancy any of the other back room staff to step up and do a better job. Unlike as an example years ago when Budgie Byrne was caretaker, ultimately he wasn’t proper manager material but had something & most weren’t adverse to giving him a go.

As for new manager. I want more of a winner, someone who played relatively high up and not an academy manager whose job description has always been about players over results.

I dunno how (un)realistic a suggestion it is but for me; Duncan Ferguson.

Stevenages top scorer has 9 goals in the league - and most of us were delighted to see him go all those years ago.

So my point is, how other teams squads look on paper is irrelevant, it’s about how they’re performing.



I think Quaggy's point above has nailed it so with the players we have it surely comes down to the manager, his motivational skills and tactical awareness.

I would probably get rid of the backroom staff but keep Mildy for continuity plus he seems to be respected by the goalkeepers he has coached.

 but you cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear as my dear old mother used to say

if we are playing fantasy football new managers, lets go for Francesco Totti

We do have some good players just need somebody who knows how to get the best of them.

Isn't it normal that when a manager changes, the backroom staff change too?

I don't think we can be this definitive anyway. The thing that I would like to change is that I'd like the team to look more dangerous, score more goals and win more games. I don't care how that happens.

D go for a clean slate things have seem to  of gone very stale.not that i would wish anyone out of a job something needs to change for us to go forward.

most important for me is own the ground; the rest will follow. I shall renew whatever.

[/b]
B/D - get rid of manager and all first team coaching staff.....but keep Mildy !

Anyone for the Cowley brothers? Just been sacked.

I would be interested in Kenny Jackett. He is out of work at the moment I believe and most recently managed Orient so not unrealistic.

Past it

Good CV though. Almost certainly too old school for Sandro’s approach.

Darren Ferguson. Four promotions and worked under a somewhat similar setup at Posh.

Sent from my XQ-AD51

Another journeyman manager.

After being taken for a ride by Garner I suggest that Morfuni will be a bit gun shy.

Half way through an experiment is not a good time to change.

That said, right from the beginning Scott didn't have the qualities for success.

Pre Season friendlies that he said were important and Town needed a get a culture of winning were lost.

A recent example was in his interview after the Northampton game where he said he will take the credit for the 2nd goal as he was coaching the lad after training to do this....Come on Scott did you take responsibility for the lack of energy and passion shown at Colchester. I don't think so.

Scott Lindsey seems a decent person and not for one moment do I think he is a conman. Just he is not a winner.   

Really hope I am wrong with my comments above... Clem Morfuni your thoughts and decisions are the important ones.

Just make a decision.

He’s staying isn’t he. Suspect we’d have heard by now.

Not sure. The chairman only arrived back 7 days ago, we have had 3 games in that time and he has probably not even had a chance to meet any staff properly yet

With an impressive number of promotions and cup successes!

Lyndsey needs to go and to go now. He's out of his depth, players don't respect him or respond to him. STFC need to act now to save our season.

I have lost faith in Lindsey now, I don't enjoy watching us play dull dreary lifeless pass, pass, pass football always backwards or sideways, we never shoot, we get few crosses into the box despite what Lindsey suggests.

Its drining the will out of me.

We need change now so a new manager can come in and get a couple of players to bolster the way they want us to play, of course we could get worse but the chances are we will get a better more suited manager in.

The lack of goals and a total lack of shooting is concerning.

But, I can't see it happening, this is a head over heart decision as Lindsey is apparently well liked and a nice bloke but its just not working tactically in games or technically with substitutions or plan B being the same as plan A.

I spoke to Duke a couple of days ago, he is ok and just staying away from the forum due partly I am sure to the utter negativity he faces when he posts, hes had a rough few months away from football and is slightly disillusioned with the football served up but still reads the TEF.

Which is basically his prefered role so I hear, hes a central attacking midfielder not a wide man.

I too agree, I think the players have way more ability and prospects than they are currently showing, not everyone thinks the players arent good enough, they are just not being played to their strengths, or not having their strengths recognised by the coaching staff/manager IMO.

We have a solid mid/upper table team but with good coaching and the right tactics that can easily get better, look at Mansfield away only a few week ago.

As I have said to several TEF'rs off the forum is that last season we has 2 players that could create things and score goals on their own, thats McKirdy and Payne, they gave us a total of 36 goals an numerous assists.

They have moved on and we have moved on but we don't have 1 let alone 2 players to replace those goals, add to that Simpson pre January who bagged 11 goals in half a season and thats 47 goals missing and not replaced.

No, god no, awful managers with poor 1 dimensional tactics and no plan B, ask Pompey fans

But isn't that the chosen style for 'the project', isn't the whole point of going down the TD/DoF route that even if the managers changes the 'style' doesn't to ensure consistency, so even if SL goes it will depend on getting another manager in who will be expected to play in the same style with the same players.

I think that things have got (and will continue to be until a change happens, whatever happens on the pitch) so toxic that SL has to go, but I do fear that changing the manager is not going to be the golden bullet that some supporters seem to think its going to be.


Would agree with this, if we are changing it needs to be so it gives anyone incoming a chance to assess the squad and change in January as they see fit.

Whilst not as good as those mentioned Josh Davison chipped in towards the back end of the season.

McKirdy(21) Payne(13) and Simpson/Davison(9+9) accounted for 67.5% of our league goals last season.

…and after those 4 it was Louie Barry with 6 goals which jumps it up to 75.3% of our league goals last season gone

not sure we have the players for Cowleyball

Indeed, he could make things happen on his own, I discounted Davison as Jephcotts goal return is close on 5 goals from 17 games is quite comperable to Davisons 9 from 23. It was only after I realised I missread Davisons contribution! :D

We also don't appear to have the players for Lindseyball   :D

good point

As for replacements for SL, we could just dip into the obvious myriad of managerial super talent that exists on the Swindon Town Facebook page. I'm sure most would command only a nominal salary so we'd be saving money in the process!

What’s the point of signing Austin for 6 months if, as likely, we spend that 6 months floundering around mid table in L2?

I realise that that’s not the intention but with Lindsey in charge it seems inevitable.

TBF a situation that seems pretty reflected on here ATM  ;) ;)

I remain somewhat bemused how many of our fan base managed to survive the Diamandis years, McMahon or in fact any of the 21st Century without doing themselves quite the mischief.

Another thing that passed me by at the time was a comment from Lindsey about fielding the biggest players available v Cobblers.

He said it wasn’t premeditated as he prefers small, technical players. That’s why we’re getting battered in midfield by the cloggers. There’s no way he’s going to sign a Grant type.

For all the shit off the pitch in those years, the football was not boring as it is now. That’s the clincher for me. We’re predictably boring, and I don’t look forward to seeing this team play. It will drive away a sizeable chunk of fans that returned last year.

There would have been far less methods to put points across that there are these days. I imagine the very basic and early football forums would have been pretty much the only way and these were not massively popular? Now you've got multiple forums, podcasts and a plethora of social media platforms for everyone to have their say.

Before forums the only way to make your displeasure known were the time honoured ‘what a load of rubbish’ and ‘insert manager’s name out’.

‘Get that scouser out, get that scouser out’ was my fav.

Mcmahon may have been hated etc but winning div3 and battling to stay in division 2 is a dreamworld, compared to where we are now making up the numbers in div 4.

you go to the football, yeah to support your team, but surely, you want to be entertained also.

This is not entertaining football. You want excitement, adrenaline, something thats going to get you off your seat, scream, shout, sing. You want a chance that the team might do something, win, score, at the mo9ment, we not even fucking shooting!!

I agree, I am not win at all costs like the Cowley/Evans/Flitcroft style sides, I know many want wins at ALL costs but I want to be entertained too, Northampton was a tough watch and it was a great win but fucking hell if we played like that week in and week out I would lose interest in watching us totally.

Its close to that now with the dullest football I have seen in years at Swindon, since Williams regime, innefective sideways/backward passing and boring without many chances being created, its still a surprise when we do actually win a game.

There were definitely fora (is that the word) in the McMahon era, I first joined some sort of STFC forum when I was living in Newcastle at Uni so pre 1996, I think this place existed (or a version thereof) in the darkest days of Diamandis, plus there was the unofficial one...

For the love of christ, I really thought we were past using our previous financial position to exonerate on the pitch dross. "At least we have a club" a happy clapping meme at this point.

Let it die.

The type of 'wait and see' to death attitude that almost helped allow Lee Power to kill the football club.

You can have a 5 year plan for the business aspects and the structural side to the game - like Academy development, stadium purchase and development etc.  These are all ultimately to deliver the best possible platform for delivering results on the field.  That bit requires a combination - a long term plan delivering talent as needed, a short term one to deliver the best results possible now.  In Div 4 I simply fail to believe we cannot be doing both.  I get it, if we were much higher up the pyramid, we'd have to become more selective on using financial resources.

Million Dollar Man made a pertinent point on the Advisory Board thread regarding the lack of presented 1,3,5 and 10 year plans that Clem made in his statement;

My commitments to supporters and the wider community of Swindon and surrounding areas:
I will always be open and transparent on all matters in regard to STFC.
I will provide regular engagement and communication with the supporters and the wider community of Swindon and surrounding areas.
I will build a sustainable future for STFC, investing in the infrastructure of the Club with the aim to take it forwards to being a stable Championship Club.
I will build a sensible structure and present a 1, 3, 5 and 10 year plan that will aim to carry and develop STFC into the future.
Further to all of the above, I will not take a salary or any personal fee payments from the Club for the time I own a controlling interest in the club

I suspect it would be something like.

1 - reduce historic debt
3 - further reduce historic debt, complete CG Purchase
5 - something something about league 1/championship
10 - sell the club.

I would change 3 to complete CG purchase or you may cause mayhem with the tin hatted brigade suggesting that he plans to flog the ground.

He has to go. Its painfully obvious that he is not capable of managing this football club to success and in my opinion has been for a long time. Why waste time on this more? Especially if we're going through the hassle of signing a player like Austin for the next few month, otherwise what was the point?

The whole thing needs to change. The squad is a bit of a mixed bag, but the likes of Brynn, Clayton, Blake-Tracy, Reed when you get the best out of him, Williams, etc. are more than capable of being in a League Two title winning team. Then there are a whole host of promotion contenders in there if you can up their games and keep them fit. Khan, Darcy, MacDonalds, Wakeling, Gladwin, etc.

The problem isn't the squad (most of them), the problem stems from a lack of man management, tactical capability, squad depth due to some well off the mark signings and most importantly the style of pass pass pass pass and go fucking nowhere with a couple of shots per game.





Why is it deemed so negative to have a ball winning midfielder? Why is it deemed negative to have fucking shots? Or to occasionally pass long? The worrying thing for me is Garner was the same, so is this a Clem philosophy?

I cannot possibly stress what I'm about to say enough.

There is a giant fucking difference between being a Stoke or a Sam Allerdyces Bolton or 80s Wimbledon of the world where its just a team of bullies that pump it forward constantly to a big man and look for scraps. It isn't a binary choice between that and pass pass pass pass fucking pass, lose it and concede, pass, pass, pass, don't dare shoot, fucking pass it again, back to keeper and fuck your entire fan base off with bored to death shite!

I hate to be the fan that brings up Di Canio all the time, but its the perfect choice I can think of one of our teams that managed to find the balance. Not a bunch of hoofball merchants but a team that managed to be a passing team, but with purpose and avoiding this type of tippy tappy go nowhere shite. The medium does exist.





Furthermore on Sandros comments about showcasing talent, the comment might piss some off but the reality is the reality. Most clubs are selling clubs if the money and situation is right. Probably all of the 92 apart from Man City. If we're the right time, right price type of selling club rather than the roll over, tickle our balls and pay us whatever you fancy kind of selling club we've been in the past, then that isn't an issue for me.

But Championship, Prem and Scottish Prem teams aren't lining up to buy players because they complete a lot of sideways and backwards passes every game. These sorts of clubs want Keepers and defenders with clean sheets, strikers with goals and midfielders with assists and more importantly winners. So this isn't an excuse for this type of shite football close to 10k are backing the club with at The County Ground every other week are suffering at the moment.




Again, I worry this is coming from Clems philosophy and why he keeps going for apparent 'good coaches' rather than football managers that can win. If this is the case, then you need a long hard think Clem. Did this come from Power? Because he had a similar mentality, although different the selling funds went straight in his back pocket.

You've got a lot right since buying the club off the pitch and despite the 'lucky we have a club' merchants not understanding this, you can be thankful for it and still be royally fucked off with how badly you've got it wrong when it comes to the mentality on the pitch and that is exactly where I'm at.



Rant over.

ha - fair point. I have edited the original post, but it remains in yours so it's going to be all your fault when the tin hat people come looking for their pound of flesh! :)

True, albeit after the events in Preston Crown Court this afternoon I suspect there will be a fair few groups out with flaming torches in South Cumbria this evening anyway so won't notice another group!  ;) ::)

Agree with you 99% I think The only bit i will disagree on is it being Clems style. From what i have read and been told Clem has done the right thing (until now) and stayed out of football side of things and left that down to people like Sandro and others.  Now the argument can be that he has made the wrong decisions there totally which i personally think he has but the philosophy etc is coming from the people he employed. It's up to him now to rectify that and that comes from either changing it or firing  a few fucks into them because it seems to me that as soon as he leaves the country we hear fuckall from the club and then when he is back he has a pile of shit to constantly clean up

Yeah I don't know if this is part of Clems football philosophy/mantra or not, but I'm just drawing comparisons between our current style and the similar frustrations under Garner and previously Luke Williams who if I'm not mistaken was here while Clem was a part shareholder as well.

That and the theory that he may think 'passing football at all costs' attracts buyers for players.

Does anyone know how we ended-up with Sandro?  Who sought him out, given the lack of experience at the Boardroom level, in the footballing world that is.  I know Chairmen get pelters for getting involved in the footballing side, but as their boss you can surely have a series of strong words around performance?

He came via Wigan didn't he, and I can understand why he may have looked attractive as the season before they basically put a whole new squad together and won L1.

Considering their links I would not be surprised to see the recently sacked Leam Richardson who won that title with Wigan rolling up here?

But who knew about him?  He was basically there for 6 months after a career of working as an Analyst for SkyBet wasn't he - with our team being a good performer high up the Building Society chain and an Aussie plumber, who knew to look there and who did enough research to determine he was the path to follow?  

I am very much OK with using Stats, just concerned we look, quite literally, like a gamble right now.  You can sign a few rough diamonds, but you need some who tick the box right now.  If he is the guy in charge of the footballing recruitment, then why would we expect anyone to be put in front of Clem worthy of replacing Lindsey?

Isn’t Sandro, Chris Kielys man?

I believe this to be the case.

Who’s Chris Kiely?

Ex Charlton keeper Dean Kiely's son, one of the "behind the scenes" backers, mentioned back in the Summer if not before.

What’s his brief

Deans son.

Racehorse owner and professional gambler

http://thetownend.com/index.php?topic=58890.msg1705433#msg1705433

http://thetownend.com/index.php?topic=58393.msg1700486#msg1700486

So basically Di Michelle, through his days at SkyBet in PR has managed to get in with a crowd that has some influence.  See Sandro has an ownership stake in the GeeGee's.  His sports consultancy did little to no business (based on the available accounting info).  Also, why did he leave Wigan so briefly after joining them, and also just before the January transfer window?  Was it a case of jobs for the boys that got him in there?

Anyway, my point for raising him is that it would seem he isn't going to be going anywhere, so why would we expect anything different in any Lindsey replacement?

By the way, all innocent questions from me, not really paid that much attention to him before now.  He becomes more important if we would be thinking of changing things up.

second one

"The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you."

???

JJ has given away our secret!  :soapy tit wank:

I actually think it's all viable questions, We have a guy, with limited football experience who is head of recruitment, that stretches from players to coaching and management. It's only right questions should be asked.

Some of the players have sort of worked out, I think we mostly agree that there are some with the potential, however, the management seems to be a bit fudged.

Lindsey says he has final say on transfers. If that was the case (doesn't look like it is now) then he shoulders the ultimate blame. Hopefully a new manager (like an actual football manager and not a head coach would be nice) would be better at picking and choosing from his suggestions and relegate Sandro to more of a regular scout.

Although ideally I don't think Sandro has shown he is overly up to it either outside of Clayton and maybe a couple of other permanent signings, his hit rate isn't good at all.

This is the biggest worry. He picked SL and that is his biggest failure. If he sticks around, he'll be involved in picking his replacement.

I think we could all develop a model that said that Liverpool’s youth team captain may be half decent in League Two.

If Sandro leaves then that could change

Looking at available players from the top clubs while you're at a lower league team, is a favourite Championship Manager past time for most.

Are we sure his spreadsheet isn't just the latest manager games?

Sandro would fit in well at the Creepies

Do we have any expectation that Sandro might be leaving?

Looking at the website for one of the two Sole Trader "companies" he set-up in the past 4 years, it looks a lot like stuff most people use these days.  I assume he backs some of his skills as a Bookie to see the patterns in the form and identify the long shots who should be doing better as a result.  So we are paying for his unique ability to identify the rough diamonds rather than any as yet unseen way of recording data on a player.

So, if I got this correctly, our whole policy, style and transfers is based on 'long shots'? That's very concerning

No, not long shots - just players who he can identify as having stats that suggest more ability than current situation. Jephcott for example - being available for a club like us this season.  On the opposite end, I assume someone like Khan stood out as having the sort of stat profile that should have fitted a higher division.  Another assumption would be a few stats keeping a player down, but a sense you could improve those with coaching.  Calculated gambling if you like.

I am fine with that model provided you balance it.  More Jephcott style signings, less Darcy, Massey, Shade etc.  Certainly for our club in this Division.

There is a lot less to be confident about in his ability to find and recruit a Management team though - where do you find the stats to do that?  Nothing in his CV suggests he has a track record in that field (frankly, a few months at Wigan doesn't count as a track record of success to me on the other front, but I suppose CV's are prone to stretching).

Depending on your view point we struggle to a) take long shots b) hit the target when we do c) get close enough to take one.

I think if you are gonna do it. You have to do it right now. Like before the end of the week. Maybe I've looked at the fixtures wrong but we don't have a game until the 14th? Nice little break to get a new manager settled.

Tbh, I don't really trust the club to get it sorted after the mess last time. So probs best to stick with what we've got and hope for the best.

A cure for insomniacs Swindon v Salford

Well, Lindsey in the adver this morning

For those who cant get it

Scott Lindsey: Signing experience does not guarantee consistency

SWINDON Town head coach Scott Lindsey hit back at suggestions the Robins must try to add more experienced players to their squad during the January transfer window.

Regularly labelled as a young and inexperienced squad by even those inside SN1, Town partially addressed that potential shortcoming by bringing 33-year-old Charlie Austin to the club.

But the Town boss insists he and technical director Sandro Di Michele will not be scouring the over-30 market in the next few weeks in a bid to solve the club’s inconsistencies on the pitch.

Lindsey stated – after a surprise defeat to Colchester United on New Year’s Day – that possessing veteran players does not always guarantee consistent results and the recent downturn in form is not simply down to an absence of know-how in the team.

He said: “Having experienced players can help, but I’ve also known teams who have got experience be inconsistent.

“You only have to look at Colchester – that was only their fifth league win all season. They’re the oldest or second-oldest team in the division. But fair play to them, they did well to beat us.

“They’re an experienced team, but we just didn’t perform on the day. I felt that they were there to be beat, but we let them off the hook.”

Following a decent first 20 minutes at the JobServe Community Stadium, Town eased up and allowed Colchester to take a one-goal lead into the break.

Lindsey revealed his half-time team talk featured some home truths to his players but was reluctant to share much more.

He said: “We spoke about some patterns at half-time, we did talk about being a little bit more efficient with that.

“But that’s probably all I can tell you about what I said at half-time because the rest would not be printable.”

Town’s blank against the U’s was the first time they had failed to score since a 0-0 draw at home to AFC Wimbledon on December 10.

Lindsey believes that while Swindon will not be guaranteed to net in every single game Austin features, they are likely to give themselves a higher chance now that the Hungerford-born goal-getter has signed.

On Austin, Lindsey said: “He’ll bring experience and know-how. He’s a very experienced player, so he’ll know how to make runs and get across people in the box, how to find spaces, how to lean into people, how to use his body.

“I don’t want to be disrespectful to the players I’ve already got, but I’m sure that he will add something with the experience and the way he plays.”

That interview spanks vibes of ‘going nowhere’ to me.

Nah that was straight after a defeat he rambled for 10 mins. Interesting to note though that in that one part he managed to say we don't really need experience then saying Charlie will help the team with his............experience

I did notice that

I love the way after Colchester it’s all because it’s a young squad.  Now experience is not the answer.  Unbelievable contradictions.

That said I do agree in that Lindsey seems to have one formation and way of playing and mid game his substitutions are replacement bodies as opposed to a plan b way of playing.  Whether it be formation or style change.  This to me is the crux of the issue as a coach you have to develop alternate strategies for when plan A is failing.

Still waiting to see any evidence of this from Lindsey.

I am sure he will blame not having a target man for this but reality is he could have implemented a get the ball into the box quicker approach with current squad, or get ball upto wingers quicker etc.etc.   He has chosen to go with fannying around sideways and backwards passing as his only method.  I have no sympathy as he is responsible for our setup and strategy he is such a one trick pony.  

Unfortunately I think he will maintain backing through January transfer window and we will drift to mid table mediocrity.

'Lindsey revealed his half-time team talk featured some home truths to his players but was reluctant to share much more.

He said: “We spoke about some patterns at half-time, we did talk about being a little bit more efficient with that.

“But that’s probably all I can tell you about what I said at half-time because the rest would not be printable.”

Seems like SL attempted the hair-dryer treatment at half time but from memory we didn't exactly come out all guns blazing in the second half. As others have said SL's problem is that he's now absolutely determined to stick to one way of playing and hoping that it eeks out enough results to get us into the play-offs somehow. The frustrating thing is that the 4-diamond - 2 formation that worked a treat at Mansfield didn't work so well at Stockport and seems to have now been completely dispelled to history, in fact not even being used as a tactical tweak midway through games to attempt to change anything.

The way SL seems to setup is all very 'safe' or 'rigid'. All very well if it works but results have been patchy at best. I still don't think Clem will fire him until he's given him a shot of the January transfer window and what they can do in the last part of the season. By then it's probably going to be too late to salvage this season, and look to get a manager in towards the end of this season to prepare for a proper tilt at getting up properly next.

Correct, we were playing someone who ended up in the FA Cup 3rd round and rearranged, I think.

Still quicker than we are.

Holy shit that really does illustrate it.

The core problem is the complete lack of urgency when breaking forward. We value possession so highly that we daren't try risky through balls for fast players to run onto. Even when we do break, we turn back - Gladwin is a particular culprit in this respect. Maybe we just don't have players of the calibre of Payne to drive forward or McKirdy to run onto chances, but we are good at close control and have plenty of pace in Hutton, Wakeling and RHM. If Williams was played centrally and Reed allowed to operate in the way that suited him last year breaking forward from our own box and passing, then we would give ourselves far more chances. It's all just so damn slow.

Instead of "Forward!", can we all shout "Faster!" this year?

Yeah we were supposed to be facing Stevenage this weekend but they are in FA Cup 3rd round action.

Clown show at this point.

Because the players don't really believe in him.

not a chance we get autos under SL, we may scrape play offs by virtue of this being the very worst Div4 in memory, but given our inconsistencies I cant see us progressing from the semis let alone winning it... 1 back to back win all season isnt it.

so do we roll the dice now (hes not exactly going to be on top dollar is he, so sacking him now vs in the summer isnt going to be a huge cost) and keep the majority of the fans on side that this project will eventually be successful, even if not this year, or persist with dishing up this crap for another 5 months and drive away the floating fans?

id go so far to say that arguably finishing 10th under a new manager with better football and the hope of mounting a proper challenge next season would keep more fans interested than limping into another failed PO season with the current snoozefest being offered up.

I think it has got to the stage where SL is playing excuses roulette and rather than holding up his hands and stating that he has to do better, he's trotting out reasons that are likely to get more and more unbelievably as the form suffers. To his credit at least he hasn't blamed referees constantly like Garner did - I wonder if he ever got a response for his bizarre letter to authorities regarding throw ins!

This.

And in particular the bit about this being the worst div 4 I certainly can remember, is what is pissing me off most. What a missed opportunity.

We're not that different from Orient then

.

new manager bounce doesnt always work, but we're not even that far off the autos with 21 games to play its worth a go.

the argument around if we have enough football intelligence with the DOF/CEO/Chairman to make a shrewd appointment is another conversation given how SL came into the job as the number1 candidate without even having an interview, i worry we dont, but theres nothing to lose at this point so we may as well at least try.

as the days since colchester go on im less angry at SL, hes out of his depth, looks broken and is contradicting himself within sentances, but its for the hierarchy to take action and sort this out.

Or alternatively bottom of the football league Gillingham.

Cool. So the graph means fuck all then.

I do love stats as I am sure everyone knows but the only stats that matter are goals for and goals against, then followed by number of shots on target and number of shots saved.

The rest really are pretty pointless.

It means fuck all because it doesn't show how well a team is doing? They already have one of those already, its called a league table.

I'd go a bit further than that. We aren't really creating quality chances which is leading to not scoring goals. Defensively we seem to be ok, although we do give away chances with individiual mistakes we aren't conceding a worrying amount of goals imo.

Totally agree with this.

Agree.

And there wouldn't be so many mistakes in this team defensively if we didn't keep the ball going nowhere at the back for so long. Doing so with any team at this level is likely to breed mistakes.

Yep agreed.

My main point being, all the style talk is irrelevant. The thing that gets fans juices going is sustained pressure in the oppo half and chance creation (again, imo).

As soon as we go a goal down nowadays, I think "game over".

This is where my head was at too so got me wondering if this could be quantified at all. Using Opta's data, managed to quickly determine the following based on our Open Play XG for.

-We have most open play shots (1st) in the league, which contributes to the 2nd highest XG.
-However, that becomes 9th for XG p/shot, so they aren't terrible chances, but not so good either. We are 9th in the league for open play goals scored so it directly correlates with the quality of chances we are creating.
-However, we see an even bigger drop off comparing XG p/shot Vs actual goals scored p/shot, we drop down to 17th. So our finishing is really poor.

Conclusion:
-XG figure is skewed by having lots of not so good shots.
-We're not bad at creating chances, but not so good either.
-We're even worser at trying to finish those chances than others.
-A good finisher like Austin could help us over perform.

It always worries me when these witch-hunts start to gather momentum where the loudest voices drown everyone else out.

I was at Old Trafford early in Ferguson's time there and things were not going well. The Stretford End were singing "Bye-Bye Fergie" and we all know how that ended. I am in no way comparing SL to Ferguson but to write him off while we're in a play-off position is also premature. Claims that he has lost the dressing room are based on what? Did he find the dressing room at Mansfield then lose it again?

I don't like the knee-jerk reactions prevalent with football fans. The only time I have wanted a manager to go was our Scouser and that was more to do with John Trollope's departure, together with a knee-high tackle when he got sent off against, I think, Bolton.

I hope that Austin can assist out goal-scoring record and quiten down some of our more volatile supporters.

There are two further bits of work I'd be interested to see, but unlikely ever to.  How much analysis is provided at this level vs. Prem League?  I wonder if they extrapolate the top level analysis and just use it with less human input further down, making it less reliable.  Also, How does that compare to chance creation not taken - I don't remember us passing up good opportunities for example.  How does that show in any stats pack?  If we are trying shit chances and unsurprisingly not converting them, but we don't pass up any better opportunities, then that probably tells out story.  We simply do not create enough to increase our odds of winning - most games at this level are tight without any dominating team.

Ferguson won the cup winners cup, super, cup, scottish prem 3 times, scottish fa cup 4 times, and the league cup- all with Aberdeen before he was seemingly under pressure at man utd.

you are right to say you are no way comparing scott lindsey as that would be ridiculous and not even worth mentioning.

like it or not SL doesn't have the creditials or CV to show any doubters that he was the potential to turn things round.

How many times have we actually played really well this season. its not very high at all and thats the biggest issue.

we are yet to see him address any issues with personel, formation and set up and its now January.

your saying its a witch hunt but he doesn't give anyone any possible bit of confidence that a turnaround in form is around the corner.

You also lost me at the point you said the only manager you wanted to go was mcmahon. that is seriously impressive after the likes of brown and sheridan etc.  

Just my twopenneth:

I do think back to that situation too. They were a (rumoured) defeat away from their greatest ever period. Maybe Charlie Austin will be his Mark Robins.

Things move on, not always for the better. Social media is more poisonous in some quarters. And we've moved on to the "instant" era. Instant news, instant reactions, instant result, black and white, do or be cancelled.

Football has moved on a bit too, not as easy to build a squad over a few seasons these days. Not easy to keep one together over a season either.

Not sure this post has a point.

I doubt many are enjoying the football, I've no idea if the 'he's got to go' are a small but loud minority  on SM or reflective of the majority of the fanbase.  I'm quite surprised how many have seemingly made up their minds.

SDM also getting a lot of flack on SM too. Is one window enough to judge the system on? He hasn't helped himself with the "showcase" comments mind. But where did that direction come from?


Yeah, that's fair!

Was 1996 the last year you attended?  :)

I don't think this is knee jerking, I thing this has been building up. When SL was appointed, I think many including myself was cautiously optimistic, hoping that it work out. But as we go through the season, a lot of people spot the same repeating pattern.

I think the frustration comes when your subjected to abject performances week in and out, and hear the same excuses. Yes we are in the playoff places right now, but their are many teams with games on hand that can take our place, Are we to accept that's ok for Swindon??

I was going to respond quoting Mr Stevens' post but I think you've made some great points. (FWIW I'm in a similar camp to Mr Stevens re the knee-jerk thing, oddly I've become much more patient with STFC as i've got older)

I think you are spot on about the instant nature of football these days, particularly in the Premier League. Look at Arsenal after they appointed Arteta and it didn't start so well. That fanbase was absolutely poisonous and it was clear a lot of them (I don't know if you can say the majority, but there was a vocal element) wanted him gone. Fast forward until now and he can almost do no wrong. Again, you can't compare someone like Scott Lindsey to Mikel Arteta, their abilities are light years apart but it does show that given time managers can flourish.

That's not to say that I think SM necessarily will. He's had 30 games in charge, winning 10, drawing 8 and losing 12. (according to Wiki) The January window along with the Charlie Austin signing really is last chance saloon territory. If things don't pick up the small minority on SM will turn into loud voices at the CG after full time whistles.

I'll give more detail when i've got time, but people quoting our league position in accusations of "knee-jerk", trial by social media thinking, is really irking me.

Based on form since November (8 league games), we are 20th in the table. Thats being generous and not counting the FA cup loss at Stockport.

I'd like to state for the record, I have felt SL was likely not the right man for the job and have seen nothing to be shown that I am wrong since.

I've flat out been arguing with people on here early in the season about our style of play and the quality of it since the start of the season.

Call me a miserable bastard but I've not been so negative at certain iffy times in the past. Fickle and knee jerk reactions don't come in to it.

There are a few others who have felt the same as me all season, but the last few weeks it seems to have tipped in favour of people fed up with Lindseytippytappyball and Sandros spreadsheet recruitment.

Yeah thats comical.

surely the happiest of happy clappers wanted Sheridan gone.

Just found some interesting stats....

All league postion related.

Interceptions 22nd
Successful tackles 24th
Clearances 23rd

Get into em FFS.

Pointless playing possession football if this is the case. Very clearly going to concede too many to make it work.

No bite.

That's absolutely fair. I can totally see why people have got to the point of despair.

I'm torn between "Rome wasn't built in a day" and "oh crap, we've got a game this week. I'll take the kindle"

I do feel that getting to the playoffs is my mark of minimum standard too (in div 4). It a question of whether the judgement comes now or at the end of what would be another wasted season.

I didn't really know much about SL at the season's start.  I was sceptical about appointing an established no. 2 as head coach.  A good no. 2 is just that, usually.  But Garner shat on us.  STFC was ill prepared.  SL was appointed. I have to say I still think he deserved his chance. 

And for more than 4 league games after which more measured posters were forced to point out the starts previously made by PDC and other successful STFC teams.   Perhaps some of SL's detractors were prescient and finer judges than other more reserved posters? 

Others felt we needed a dozen games or so to make a judgement.  By which time STFC had rolled out an impressive if relatively lacklustre unbeaten run.  The performance at Mansfield Town, aided by a sending off, just about papered over the lack of creativity and incision post McKirdy.  However some fans were starting to chant SL's name  (not followed by "OUT"!).

But we've now slipped well past the 23 game stage and it is clear that our play has slipped backwards.  We require to be in the playoffs and do not look like we would make that cut.  We were a tad unlucky at that stage last year but even if we did make the POs, SL does not look capable of producing a PO winning side or a meaningful contender.  That is unacceptable for me.  For all sorts of reasons.  Sorry Mr Stevens.  Now is the time to change managers.

Despite his record in Scotland, there was a real pressure in the ground that night for him to be fired.I can barely remember Sheridan's time. I do recall that he didn't get rid of Trollope because that had already happened.No.Take the season as a whole and we're 6th. More relevant.


As I'm based in Manchester, I generally do games north of Walsall but, "as I don't live abroad". I only watch the ifollow games that are on general view. I would be the last to pretend that some performances have been far from good. Maybe more signings would improve things but we don't know who is being considered. I do know that the key players last season were, by necessity, on one year contracts and they would have left anyway. Hopefully longer contacts result in a more settled side year on year.

Credit to you, you do as much as is reasonable for a sane person.

Do you think it gives you a different perspective on things, and a sense of detachment from the emotional side? 

Away form has been as good as home form. But you expect it to be tougher on the road. So I wonder if having less frustrated and moaning people around coupled with a slightly less frequent watch makes it different for you.

Probably more likely to just be different personality to us moaners.
----
As an aside, and I do feel guilty, but I've taken a Newcastle fan with me to a few games this season. He's actually enjoyed it (he says) but the verdict was as we all know "look good up to final third".

He still wants to go though.

spacings a bit off, but on PPG were 10th and on course to miss out on the playoffs.

   

P   W   D   L   F   A   +/-   Pts 1   Leyton Orient   24   66.70%   20.80%   12.50%   1.46   0.54   0.92   2.21 2   Stevenage   24   62.50%   25.00%   12.50%   1.46   0.71   0.75   2.12 3   Northampton Town   24   54.20%   29.20%   16.70%   1.62   1   0.62   1.92 4   Bradford City   23   47.80%   26.10%   26.10%   1.3   1   0.3   1.7 5   Carlisle United   24   41.70%   37.50%   20.80%   1.54   1.04   0.5   1.62 6   Mansfield Town   24   45.80%   20.80%   33.30%   1.38   1.29   0.08   1.58 7   Walsall   23   43.50%   26.10%   30.40%   1.26   0.91   0.35   1.57 8   Doncaster Rovers   24   45.80%   16.70%   37.50%   1.25   1.42   -0.17   1.54 9   Salford City   23   43.50%   21.70%   34.80%   1.3   1   0.3   1.52 10   Swindon Town   25   40.00%   32.00%   28.00%   1.12   1   0.12   1.52 11   Barrow   24   45.80%   12.50%   41.70%   1.21   1.17   0.04   1.5 12   Stockport County   23   43.50%   17.40%   39.10%   1.43   1   0.43   1.48 13   AFC Wimbledon   24   37.50%   29.20%   33.30%   1.21   1.17   0.04   1.42 14   Sutton United   25   40.00%   20.00%   40.00%   1   1.24   -0.24   1.4 15   Tranmere Rovers   24   37.50%   25.00%   37.50%   1.04   0.83   0.21   1.38 16   Grimsby Town   23   34.80%   26.10%   39.10%   1.13   1.17   -0.04   1.3 17   Crewe Alexandra   22   31.80%   31.80%   36.40%   0.86   1.23   -0.36   1.27 18   Newport County   24   25.00%   29.20%   45.80%   0.96   1.12   -0.17   1.04 19   Harrogate Town   23   26.10%   21.70%   52.20%   1.3   1.57   -0.26   1 20   Crawley Town   24   20.80%   29.20%   50.00%   1.08   1.62   -0.54   0.92 21   Colchester United   24   20.80%   20.80%   58.30%   0.88   1.29   -0.42   0.83 22   Hartlepool United   24   16.70%   29.20%   54.20%   1   1.88   -0.88   0.79 23   Rochdale   23   17.40%   17.40%   65.20%   0.78   1.52   -0.74   0.7 24   Gillingham   23   8.70%   34.80%   56.50%   0.3   1.22   -0.91   0.61

To be honest, when I lived in Wiltshire I was probably more emotionally involved. However, the two-division relegation under Ardilles made me realise that things I thought were important were totally out of my control so I stopped being as involved.

In truth, the people I sit with at away games are those who go to hundreds/thousands of games and I view the matches as a social thing. I feel much happier when we win though!

This is really simple, the same limp attacking performances since Gillingham away, along with the same post-match rhetoric, has poisoned the season so far.  Whoever is responsible for coaching the attacking players has not only failed to show any new ideas but has insulted the fans' intelligence.  Signing a former Premier League top scorer is going to cause conflict and change.  If results and performances don't immediately improve, heads are going to roll.  Clem has thrown down the gauntlet with failure not to gain promotion not being any option.    

I feel I must say how impressed I've been with the last 2 pages (12,13) of this thread !

It's been a good mannered, well reasoned, insightful debate and has been a joy to read !

Wot's happened to the 25 % bollox !?   :D

SFP
Please explain ?