Thetownend.com

May as well get a head start on this seeing as we've had two games postponed and not much else is happening in terms of signings or new manager announcements.

At least it should be warmer and this one should be on.

They've made 5 new signings and have new owners so wouldn't expect the same dross they've been earlier in the season.

1-1, 10,500 with 802 mobile home habitants.

Piece of piss, 4-1.

Jillies looking to have more new signings in before Saturday, they will be a very different prospect than the team we could only draw with months ago.

But hopefully a very different prospect to what they'll be in a few weeks once they've had time to gel. This isn't a game we want to be postponed, you'd imagine. Hopefully on Saturday they're still a bit dysfunctional.

We need this to go ahead for certain, they have really turned things around since the takeover and have won both their last fixtures 2-0 and only lost 1-0 to Leicester and Stevenage since January, a very different prospect to when we just couldnt score against them early season.

Hopefully they are still gelling and we will be after the new manager bounce (hopefully).

I see Gillingham fans are wanking themselves off having sold around 600 tickets. To be fair I suppose that is quite good for them.

The more the sorrier

Their cup final init.

Their big day out. Shame I won't be there.

Another 11,000 attendance.

Round dodger

Indeed, one needs to sell a fair bit of lucky heather to afford our ticket prices

Gills have now sold 789 Tickets, should be a good Att.

Home end ticket sales nothing to write home about as yet. Then again, I'm not sure what sales typically look like by Wednesday lunchtime. A manager announcement would likely lead to a few extra bums on seats.

Is Ken Price playing for them ?

(For the older ones).

Be a late flurry, I expect people are waiting to see if the weather thaws.

Town win 2-0 with an Austin double. Crowds go wild.

Another great presser from Gunning. My fav

‘ Gavin Gunning on loan players:

No idea.

There is no pressure on me, pressure is for tyres. I am only there to deliver a message, be positive, be pragmatic and when you have to be ruthless.’

What a guy!

Let's hope this one is actually on......don't forget, the pitch hasn't been covered from what I've seen said, will it thaw in time.

it's 7.5 c. I know it can take a while but I'll be amazed if this one is off

It's not going to be below 0C in Swindon between now and then

haha. I just mentioned that on a seperate thread so apologies for that. He's a character isn't he?

Also liked his bit about hoiking players off early if they aren’t performing.

We shall see. I hope it’s on although don’t be shocked if “it’s off”.

Looks like we're actually trying to get this one on- DRS side of the pitch is covered.

Hopefully it works. Perhaps some heat blowers could be the answer  ;)

Get Sandro out there, he's full of hot air.

He would sell that patch off, put down some seed and big up the young green shoots.

I just hope to see the more direct play we saw a few weeks ago.  Want to see new players on the pitch and the "manager" figuring out how to get all the best players on at the same time. 

Connot Masterson signs for Gills. Didn’t we have him once?

Yes & didn’t get injured within his first or second game?

I thought his name rang a bell. 5 games on loan back in 2021. I think he looked decent enough but got injured IIRC.

Yes, the season that shall not be named.

Can’t have progressed much if he’s still in L2

He did look a classy tall CB until the injury, good signing IMO for Jillies.

They also had him last season in league 1. This loan move suggests QPR don't see a future for him and they've maybe arranged a future deal for him with Gills permanently.

Charlie will have him on toast

Swindon 1 Gillingham 0  Ray MacHale😀 Att: 11,100 (750 Pikeys)

I seem to remember Materson beig half decent in his short time with us too

Remember defender Adam El-Abd a few years ago on loan from Bristol City who also later went on loan to Gillingham.

Yes

"El-Bad" was his nickname (though I can't remember him being awful)

In all games between the teams in 146 games Swindon have won 55, drawn 38 and lost 53 scoring 222 and conceding 204 goals.

In games played at the CG though Swindon have the upper edge having played 49 games, Swindon winning 30, drawing 11 and losing 8 times with Swindon scoring 96 goals and conceding 43.

Swindons biggest wins have been a 6-1 back in 1928 and a 5-0 thrashing in 2007.

Jills biggest win being a 3-0 defeat in 2015.

Town have only won 1 of the last 5 games at the CG losing the other 3 and 1 draw but over a longer period Swindon have only suffered just 4 defeats in the last 22 games played at the CG with Swindon winning 11 and the other 7 being drawn games.

Gills currently sit 1 place off the bottom of the table on goal difference with just 20 points and having scored only 11 goals but conceding just 28 times which is only 3 more than Swindon from 1 less game. They have 4 wins to their name with half of those coming in the last 2 games and 4 of the 11 goals scored have came in the last 2 games as well, that is since their takeover was completed and they brought in Kenny Overcoat as DoF.

In this January transfer window they have already brought in 8 players - Timothee Dieng from Exeter for £100k, Tom Nichols from crawley for £60k, Oli Hawkins from Mansfield for £100k, George Lapslie from Mansfield for £80k, Jayden Clarke from Dulwich unknown fee, Ethan Coleman from Orient unknown fee, Callum Harriot free and Conor Masterson on loan.

I see Jills fans are up to their old antics after racists language was used on Boxing Day in the game vs Col Utd


https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64098711

Anyone heard any news on whether/weather the pitch has thawed out and will be playable tomorrow?

I haven’t but in Swindon today and yesterday its definitely been mild and damp rather than freezing and icey…if that’s any indication I’d say it should be on

That's what I thought. I guess it's whether the pitch has thawed properly since temps got above freezing earlier this week as it's only supposed to get down to about 0 for a few hours tomorrow morning before going up to about 4 or 5. 

It is milder today so should help, i think they left the flood lights on to try & ''thaw'' where they could. Blowers were due yesterday to help but not sure they arrived.

They’ve had blowers on the pitch over night. Should be fine.

Linda Lovelace? [one for the oldies].

Henry?

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

He's more of a sucker I would have thought.

Or a posh old buffer in brick red chinos (one for the cricket fans).

Like the gobbling teas maid?

Pinched off twitter

Think I've got this one and one for the Sellhurst Park game.

My second favourite trilogy of games

My favourite probably. Definitely my favourite season. And also my favourite player of all time on the cover of the programme (and I don't mean Steve White)

Brilliant season, atmosphere at Selhurst Park was electric !!.  A few windscreens got took out after the game by upset pikey fans !!.

Just met Neil Harris when leaving a conference. Decent bloke.

Memories.
Of all the games against the Pikeys, even one which shades all the play off games was the 3-1 home win end of season that started the long distance rivalry.
Both clubs still chasing promotion, the TE that day loud and I mean loud, nothing like the shite nowadays.

Remember going down there by train losing 1-0 in a league game. They were out for retribution, in the away end, down every Street.

Totally different back then.

Ray MacHale - What a player.

Really looking forward to tomorrow. All us fans want to see is attacking football at home

I remember that game well Mayes and Rowland scoring who else! and the season we blew promotion right at the end losing away at Sheffield Wednesday & Blackpool.
Over 15,000 that day and like you say the atmosphere was electric.

Henry Blofeld ?

You can't read,
You can't write,
You wear gold and Nike's
Because you come from Gillingham,
And you're all fucking..............

That's three of us that have thrown that one out there now to nothing but silence and slowly passing tumbleweed.

Oh, my dear old thing! I’m sorry we didn’t react.

They should try being me for a day   ::)  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Should be an interesting team sheet today. Macdonald? Iandolo?

Lavinier a must start.

GK: Brynn

LB: Lavinier
CB: Blake-Tracey
CB: Macdonald
RB: Hutton

CM: Iandolo (too early for Cain I think but off the bench for sure)
CM: Khan

LW: Hepburn-Murphy
CAM: Williams
RW: Wakeling

ST: Austin

We have a massive problem in midfield. Need 2-3 bodies.

Cain will start I reckon.

Bit of jiggling needed for the back 4. Brennan? FBT LB or CB?

Up front virtually picks itself after the Grimsby mauling

I think he’ll start exactly as he did vs Grimsby

Is Dolo available? 

Same, apart from I'd throw Cain straight in.

Let's start a clique 🙈🙉🙊

Be shocked of we see Macdonald today so on that basis i am going 3 at the back, interesting to see who the 3 will be but would assume Brennan FBT and another depending on Clayton . Cain and Khan then 3 up top, i would switch RHM and bench him, think he could be a better impaxt sub than Jephcott

so he's going?

I see the Jillies have sold over 900 tickets for todays game, should be another 10k+ crowd.

I think it will be

GK: Brynn

LB: Lavinier
CB: Blake-Tracey
CB: Brennan
RB: Hutton

CM: Cain
CM: Khan

LW: Hepburn-Murphy
CAM: Williams
RW: Wakeling

ST: Austin

In the Presser, Gunning mentioned that Clayton was back. Interesting to see if he comes into the team or sits on the bench.

If he is risked then Lavinier would revert to the bench and FBT to left back IMO. Might be best to bring him off the bench to start with though.

Maybe I misheard, but I thought he said he probably wouldn’t be involved this week, but would next week? Could be me mixing up another player though?

that's what he said

Rumours FBT has been recalled?

That will be a massive blow if true.

Perhaps with a view for a permanent deal to be done? Risk of him getting injured today so maybe it's being done for that reason?

Massive disappointment if true.

Swap deal for MacDonald?

Why recall though?

I would rather keep both if we could but if it came down to it then FBT is more important than MacDonald IMO.

oh cock

Flogging him next week I reckon.

Yeah, but I presume it’d be to us

Guess other clubs might be interested and no point risking him getting injured before the transfer window.

Other clubs have made their interest known, FBT liked his time with us so we will be faves is Morris wants him.

Ah, well. Find out for sure in 10 minutes!

Lots of talk on the Burton forum that MacDonald will sign for them in the next day or so.

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

FBT put to bed.

Macdonald looks likely to leave with that squad.

Gotta be looking at some sort of swap then surely. If we can replace MacDonald then its decent business.

Lavinier to left back, FBT in the middle. Jephcott for RHM is not like for like. It’ll be interesting to see how Jephcott works alongside Austin.

https://twitter.com/stfc_1969/status/1619333649551478785?s=46&t=UzZPW4UrFWZjtvYqUbrcow

Well, that rather looks like MacDonald is off. If it's in FBT + money then I think we've done fairly well there, when they've played together FBT has looked better and that's out of position. As with anything, depends what comes in, selling the club captain after 6 months isn't a great message to send.

Still, will worry about transfers after 5pm. Mostly I'm just relieved we're actually going to play a game of football!

Austin skipper

Probably line up like this I would think.

            Brynn
Hutton   FBT   Brennan  Lavinier
        Khan   Iandolo
Jephcott    Williams   Wakeling
              Austin

With Wakeling and Jephcott pressing into a 433 when we attack. Interesting that we have basically 3 attackers.

Defensively in midfield Iandolo and Khan does concern me a little, Khan has a great engine I just hope Iandolo steps up, hes been very poor this season so far.

Hi Jilly fan  :smugfu:

Probably my ‘piece of piss’ prediction!

Not quite sure how that conclusion can be drawn. Most of this thread has been talking about the manager/player scenarios. Barely any predictions and certainly nothing outlandish or arrogant as far as I can see, apart from Audrey's standard fayre!!

I agree with your views. Iandolo is a poor tackler and could let us down in defensive midfield, but I hope he improves to help Khan out.

Absolutely, they hate us, but we are very ambivalent* about them.

*for the Jills fan ambivalent means having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

Saga Tours!

Well, not ambivalent enough for a bunch of posters to not roll out the traveller shite. Could do without that really.

Surely it’s just 442 no? Williams and Wakeling wide. Jephcott and Austin up top.

He has it in him when he puts his mind on it. He seems to drift out of games and commits silly fouls in very dangerous positions.

I’d rather have Iandolo in there as a defensive midfielder than any position that requires him to ‘attack’

Lining up as a back 5 in the warm up, Iandolo left hand side of a 3.

Jills biggest away following at Swindon since the play off final in 1987, they normally only bring about 450 for their "cup final".

Fair play for them doubling that amount today but I hope they have the trek back home with their tails firmly between their legs. But then even Grimsby brought almost that figure 2 weeks ago for a much longer away trip.

He did well there for a couple of games before injury a few seasons ago, might be worth a go.

What positions has Ellis *not* started in for Town now, is it just RB, up front and goalkeeper?

I dont remember him starting as a striker but he may have moved there during a game early in his career.

It can’t make your development easier being moved about positionally so much. Between that and all the injury issues, doing well to be a league footballer for so long.

Jeez he’s been a CB? How did that go?

He has never claimed a position, he thinks he is a left back, I and many others don't see that.

I think defensively hes poor and always looking over his shoulder as players pass him by and giving away stupid free kicks with his petulant tackling and shirt pulling. But ironically when he played CB a few years ago he looked very comfortable.

I don't remember which games but he played at CB 2 or 3 times and looked fairly decent TBH.

*EDIT: In 20/21 Burton, Rovers, Blackpool and Fleetwood where he got injured  he started as CB.

Wasn't it under Sheridan during the throwing shit at a wall and seeing what sticks phase?

The problem with Iandolo's defending tends to be positional rather than technical, so it might work better in a dedicated defensive position. We'll see.

Nothing would please me more than to see Iandolo be a revelation at CB.

I agree, its time he found his best position, I just don't think he has it in him though.

Town in good voice so far as we kick off attacking the Bank.

1-0

GUNNING IN

1-0 Williams!

Hes a truer. But, then so am I, and I shouldn’t be anywhere near the first team either! 😲

No wait

JODY MORRIS RED N WHITE ARMY

Lovely stuff.

Great cross by Hutton leading to it.

Sign him up ASAP

Not the most obvious part of that goal, but very unselfish and smart from Jephcott to see Williams and just get the fuck out of the way.

1-1

MORRIS OUT

1-1

Well, this is a silly game already.

Completely unmarked, Iandolo and Lavinier don't really look like they know where each other are for the cross. Can point the finger at about five players there, a lot wrong with the defending.

Sloppy marking from FBT and Brennan not picking up the man who scored.

TBH thats where we will miss MacDonald who is decent at getting his head to the ball first.

They were marking the strikers, right? The guy who scores is a later runner from midfield, needs a midfielder to pick him up? Just really messy shape-wise, reminds me of the goals we conceded early in the season where it wasn't an obvious error so much as a positional mess.

Brennan was marking a man at the back post. The scorer came from midfield unmarked. Really poor goal to give away

MacDonald would have been there and won the header*







*maybe

Not entirely sure I can figure out the formation yet. Iandolo seems to be flitting between CB and LB and Lavinier pushed further forwards in midfield so fa.r

I can't tell where Dolo is mean to be playing because we've got Khan as the midfield so far

Penalty to Jills

It's reassuring I'm an echo for Nemo and Venks so far :D

Iandolo out of position for the goal? Brennan not marking anyone?

I *think* it's meant to be different in and out of possession, but yes, not especially clear.

Pen to them.

Given against FBT.

Jesus Christ this game has gone full Benny Hill already.

Penalty for volleying the ball into his own face?

he caught that full in his face. ref's done well to decide that's a penno

Good business getting by rid of MacDonald

FBT has a red face from where the ball hit his face FFS.

Jesus wept, that is a horrific decision

1-2

Never a penalty in a million years, awful decision.

FBT needs a concussion check by the way.

Can we knock this ref out (with a really hard kick vs assault), he seems utterly clueless

This ref is fucking shocking.

1-3

Fuck me

1-3

Never mind the ref, we look like we've never seen a cross before. This is fucking abject.

Whoever thought selling MacDonald was good business is an idiot

MORRIS OUT

Radios going off already.

I need to put my a phone down! Keep hearing things before they happen on my feed!

This match feels like that season when Town lost at their place on the opening day...was it 5-0 Town lost?

Only played effin 14mins!

Time for a beer I think  :pint:

That too.

We cant defend for shit. :crash:

Gillingham with 24% possession, you have to laugh really.

I picked a good one to miss.

A team that scored 11 goals in the previous 25 games is 3-1 up against us after 14 mins, fucking hell.

FBT handled it well there one on one with Nichollas, but why exactly was he 20 yards deeper than every other Town player?

Our heads have dropped, understandably, making silly passing mistakes.

A consistently inconsistent town. 5-0 last game to this. Terrible.

I *think* we're trying to do the Sheffield United overlapping CBs thing? FBT is playing much deeper than Brennan/Iandolo.

This

3 at the back doesn't work, it just doesn't, not if the players arent able to play it.

I don't really understand why we seem to have changed so much coming off a 5-0 win.

We will move Iandolo to sweeper and win 6-4

fucking hell gunning has dropped a bollock here

3 at the back is getting fucked over
midfield getting fucked over.

change it ffs

Far too light in centre midfield, no protection for the defence.

exactly

We seem to pass it ‘near’ to Lavinier but he doesn’t seem to be able to work out where it’s going to be!

We're playing three out and out strikers and Jonny Williams, it's not a huge surprise that there isn't much tracking back. Khan covers ground well but he's one guy.

Need Cain on in midfield for Iandolo. Go to a back 4.

Has Jephcott touched the ball yet? serious question, I havent seen him even get close to the ball. Wakeling looking lost wide right too.

New manager bounce

This.

We've got no movement up front.
The 3 1 6 formation means we've got a bank of players expecting a perfect cross

Lindsey 1 up

Tactically I meant, sorry. This is nothing like the formation v Grimsby.

With that Jephcott gets a touch and gives the ball away.

3 at the back and 2 of them are left backs.

Jody Morris has just left the directors box cursing "I dont want to manage this lot"*.

*maybe.

And Brennan isnt the tallest CB ever either.

Gunning talked in the presser about not being afraid to make changes early if things weren't working. I think this probably qualifies.

I guess it’s going to revert to the last game against Gills, where they just defend deep and let us run and pass around the outside of the penalty area

Forget McDonald, our 1 man midfield is the biggest joke. Sale of Reed looks great business. Just a shambles in general and puts to bed any lingering thoughts Gunning deserved a shot as manager.

Iandolo has moved up to midfield.

Crawley 1 up
Mansfield 2 up

Austin header off the line with the keeper beaten.

We’re saved!

finally switched to back 4

:D

We cannot cope witht he lanky twat Hawkins.

From the decent atmosphere early game its turned (probably quite rightly) into a morgue.

Do we deserve a dodgy pen to equal things up?

We have three strikers getting in each other's way and it's unbalanced the rest of the side completely. This whole selection feels like "pick the 11 best players and then try and find a way to fit them in" rather than anything more tactical than that.

Can someone at the ground tell iandolo we are in red

Wakeling, of late, looks a shadow of the player he was early season.

Hmm, expecting anything half plausible to be given. Fairly sure he knows he’s fucked up.

Iandolo down injured. Might be a mercy at this point.

Crawley 2-0

Bloody Conroy   :zipped:

Bring on the vet with the horse disposal kit.

I’m actually on the verge of hoping Iandolo is injured. His touch is fucking disgraceful.

Hutton gets away with a handball and crosses to Austin who takes it down and shoots wode and weak, good chance.

A more obvious missed handball you will not see from Hutton there. Linesman maybe three feet away?

Noticed Crawley’s first goal was from a corner slung into the box. What happened to the incessantfannying around short corners we had to endure.

I hate picking on a player but hes woefully indequate as a footballer. Get Cain on for him ASAP.

This ref is actually getting worse. He waited for the roll to give the fucking card.

No midfield & lacking a centre half that can win a header.

Gav’s honeymoon is over, this is tactically inept

I still can't work out how that was a foul by Khan, let alone a yellow

Why have we reverted from the Grimsby match style of play to this which is far more like a Lindsey style of pass pass pass and not shooting.

I would get Shade on for Jephcott and Cain on for Iandolo 2nd half.

As bad as Iandolo has been, the problem here is selection. You simply can't pick Jephcott, Austin, Williams and Wakeling in the same team, there's just no defensive cover at all and it's making the players further back look terrible because they're consistently overrun. They're making mistakes, but that's because we're basically playing 11 vs 7.

Think that was probably was yellow worthy. The break might give us a chance to sort ourselves out a bit. Next goal needs to be ours.

I take this back, went over the top. Lucky it was a yellow

MOAR STRIKERS = MOAR GOALS

Totally pointless time wasting by Nicholls getting a deserved yellow.

Tomlinson will be playing for Gills soon, just to rub salt into this gaping wound

The main difference is Grimsby came with attacking intent whereas Gillingham don’t have to do anything but load up their final third now.

3 more mins of dross to play.

Great cross from Hutton and Austin misshits a volley well wide. Another good chance.

The main difference is Gillingham have 11 players and did not surrender the midfield.

Tactical suicide.

On top of that we play 3 central strikers and a midfielder in the 10 slot.  What the fuck.  Left backs all over the place bit a right back at left back.  Recipe for disaster against a competent 11 man side.

Cross into the box there and Luke Jephcott is lurking on the far corner of the box - not blaming him personally but it's just not his game at all and no wonder he's been absolutely anonymous.

to be fair the big lad is .. er.. big

For me the issue is FBT has nobody backing him up to get the inevitable second ball

Hawkins, every time he plays against us we cannot cope with him down the years.

HT 1-3

Well, that wasn't ideal. Shat the bed tactically, shat it some more defensively. Fingers crossed the second half changes quite dramatically.

Looks like we were lucky to get 2 games called off.

Tactically a disaster that half.

Reeds barely feature this season.
Where as we’ve been a lot better defensively when MacDonald has played.

Hockaday gets absolutely everything wrong. How does he keep getting the co commentator gig?

Utter wank. Starting with 3 at the back and no midfield cover was asking for trouble.

Switch hasn't helped much, front 3 largely anymore and wasted so we are light in midfield.

#stfc

Yes but we’d have the option of not playing a 1 man midfield, Khan is literally the only player in the middle third of the pitch for us and is on the verge of a red.

Every time he is co-comms we fucking lose!

What exactly is Jephcott good at?
We seemed to have change to shoe horn him in.
He’s been a bit shit for us really.

Having a competent central defender would certainly help us.  As would having more than one competent central midfielder.  Oh and a left back at left back would be nice and a right back who can defend.  Maybe some forward players who can move outside the width of the box.

Shambles of a team selection this one.

RHM, Shade and Cain all coming on.

He's an out and out poacher really. Doesn't fit into our style at all, but think he could do well next to a target man in a more traditional 4-4-2 set up. No idea at all how he's supposed to play with Austin or Wakeling.

Our gameplan is: get the ball to Hutton and he'll do a cross, nod/volley/arse it in - goal!
So surely there's some focus on defending crosses too, given the attackers need someone to play against...

Also - we look like we've never seen a tall striker before or how we can play against them. Is this scouting or is this dude actually terrifying in real life?

I’d have brought Minturn on - can’t be worse than what’s on the park.

I would personally get Iandolo, Wakeling and Jephcott off, put on Cain, Shade and RHM.

Gunning just seems to set a team up like a basketball match, fine against 10 men but clueless against 11. Open and end to end with no organisation.

Think my summary may be a bit more positive than most but...

Not great defensively to say the least. Totally asleep for their first, like we were surprised that a cross into the box may happen when they had the ball out wide. Massive Ref fuck up for the pen, seriously WTF was he thinking? Quality delivery on the 3rd, no real complaints on that one.

Don’t think we would look so shakey if not for referee intervention in going behind. Body language dropped after that for a bit.

Made some decent chances ourselves, Austin will be disappointed not to score. Let’s not pretend that the attacking side hasn’t been better than under SL, even with them being (of course) happy to sit back after the 13th minute. We actually look like we will score against their low block.

Find the next goal and it suddenly looks very possible.

COYR

Lets face it, Gills are fucking shite and a one man team...hoof to Hawkins.

They are there to be beaten, if we can put a better performance in this half.

Williams, Iandolo and Jephcott off.
RHM, Shade and Cain on.

Not sure that's true, they've been better than us 1-11. Not saying they're unbeatable, but they're outplaying us comfortably across the park.

The only defemder playing in their rightful position is not very good, Brennan.  Hutton has to be a winger, Lavinoer is a right back, FBT a left back.  They look like they have so much time when they do attack.

Khan shoots from distance, saved.

Bright start from Cain.

"4-2-3-1 if you wanna get sexy" - Hockaday gets his kicks in strange places!

Brennan is having a mare.

Wakeling moved to LW and Shade to RW.

“4-2-3-1 if you want to get sexy”

Hockaday must have an interesting time in the bedroom

Khan is in Darcy v Newport mode where he's just going to shoot come what may.

Khan good run but his shot is miles high and wide.

encouraging to see us roll the dice and shoot from distance. Better than passing around their defence

Hawkins gets landed on, ref decides it's a head injury. Genuinely impressive gueswork

Agreed.

This looks a lot better. But still not good enough yet!

Nice to have a midfield though!

We will agree to disagree on that, I think Gills are a very poor side who just cope with our deficiences better than we are coping.

The game is still easily winnable.

Brennan injured in their box nobody seems to have noticed. Looks like something's gone.

Now Brennan is down injured.

Brennan not being able to put any weight on his ankle.

Penalty

Pen to Town.

Naive tactics in the first half and not sure about taking Williams off if we still have a chance of getting something from the game.

There's the evening up penalty the referee has been desperate to give for 50 minutes.

2-3

Thats the ref levelling it up.

Hit the arm, fair and square, but from about a yard.

This one definitely hit a hand!

2-3 Austin.

OMFG.

that levels that up

That isn’t a handball either is it!  ;)

Game on

Keeper saved it but it still goes over the line.

“Hard and low, Charlie Charlie Austin”

Another one from the Hockaday bedroom repertoire

Att: 10,259 (961)

RHM header is weak in the box.

Austin header straight at the keeper.

Crawley now 3 up Conroy one of the scorers😀

Gills going all out defence bringing on a 5th defender.

Shade looking lively since coming on.

I thought that, just before the pass 30 yards from Brennan :D

Good leadership from Austin there, putting himself between Khan and the ref. Saidou is going to talk himself into a second yellow here.

He looks lively, passes the ball five yards and stands still. I'd like him to commit defenders even when he hasn't got the ball

Jillies have 8 players back defending at all times.

They’ve had 12 shots.
That’s like 4 games worth of shots for us under Lindsey.

They’ve only had 51% possession though.

So he’ll soon coach that going forward and shooting mentality out of them for more possession.

Let's hope it's a blip😀

He doesnt give and run much, its like he passes the ball and thinks his work is done rather than going for the return pass at times.

RHM again trying to take too many touches when a quick pass is the best option.

Oh Ciaran, you lucky boy.

Brennan yellow card.

Honestly I think that should have been a red. The cover is a *long* way away when the foul starts, it catches him up because he has hold of him for so long.

Some refs would have given a red for sure. A bit closer to goal and it would have been a red.

Austin header saved by the keeper.

Wakeling off for Darcy.

Crikey, Jacob Wakeling wasn't subbed at half time. Genuinely surprised to realise that.

Hes been poor today.

Jills timewasting started early today.

Brennan is so poor, not surprised Minturn has come on.

Minturn on for Brennan.

TBF Brennan has been marking a man mountain in Hawkins today, its a tough job.

He’s literally always flat footed though.

Hes been poor for a while

Lovely tackle by Darcy on the edge of our box there.

Lick my Arse Orifice one quote is enough!

I thought he was excellent last game vs Grimsby.

3-3

Great goalk

3-3 Austin

Lovely cross and header.

BEAUTY!

RHM does really well to get to that and then a perfect cross onto the perfect run.

Not really sure we deserve this, but serves Gillingham right for not going for the kill when we were clearly all over the place in the first half.

Come on you cunts and fucking win this

You just know he gets on the end of everything.

Come on Charlie get a hatrick.

King Charles gets his 3rd in 2 games.

Khan you fucking twat

Khan red.

What in the name of holy fuck did he do that for?

Stupid boy 2nd yellow.

That Khan red has not so much been coming as driving in convoy down the M4 honking its horn loudly.

Fucking hell😡

Why the fuck is he bringing him down there! That’s so poor

Oh, this is all so very Swindony

Khan isn't very clever at all is he?

Chuffed for Charlie. Was always going to score goals at this level.

Hope we hold on.

Come on Town, Gills are poor the game is there for the taking still.

The things that we the fans like about him also make him a liability. He plays at 100% intensity all the time, chases everything and leaves his foot in. Will make him popular, but he'll get 2-3 reds a season because he simply can't play at 70%.

Should've been a second yellow for Khan, but i'll take the opportunity to slag off this twat of a ref - he didn't book gills no.3 for the same challenge on Hutton

Lavinier pushed into the centre midfield now.

Looks more like we're playing "rush" midfield :D

Just dont let Brynn push up that far!

RHM likes to take too many touches.

Please dont do that Hutton, silly free kick to give away.

I think it's that he doesn't seen many passes. Get him running down the line at defenders and he'll be dangerous

Its Keshi Anderson syndrome, always takes one more touch than he actually needs.

Argh! great counter attack, brilliant save.

RHM shoots and its well saved, great chance.

Also - 49 did the same challenge on Minturn - no booking

A more experienced striker would have got that past the keeper

That was one hell of a box entry. Should've scored RHM

Oh my word.

Told ya!

Shade shot deflected just wide with the keeper beaten.

You did!

2 mins into 6 mins added time.

Was that Lavinier sponsors MoM?

I didnt hear but he has been very good 2nd half.

What happened to the automatic Austin default?

FBT probably my MotM though, hes been great 2nd half.

RHM down with cramp by the look of it.

FT 3-3

Geez. My nerves.

Brennan limping with his ankle strapped up at the end.

Well, we've had two games cancelled but that felt like three games in one. Said my part on the tactical nonsense from the start, but to be fair the triple sub changed the game along with Gills sitting off. Point each probably fair, both sides looked very flawed.

Much improved second half. Take the point

The second half showed just how ridiculous that first half team selection was.  We probably have the best finisher in the division and we crowded his space while clearing out the midfield for them first half.

Still need some decent centre backs, probably another midfielder and not sold at all on Shade.  RHM is a sub you can throw on but wouldn't want to rely on him yet either.

Good effort to come back and maybe should have won.

We need a 6ft+ no nonsense block it, head it, kick it away experienced centre back in ASAP.

Like MacDonald? :D

:girlgiggle:

Definately a game of 2 halves and a game of 2 formations.

Cain looks very good. The difference between him and Iandolo is astonishing.

Big week now. We need 5 bodies in. 2 centre backs, 2 midfielders and maybe a wild card in the attacking areas.

By the way, I honestly don't think Minturn is far away from being ready. Doesn't look any worse than Brennan to me.

Cain looks like a footballer, Iandolo does not.

I agree, 2 CB's, probably a left back, 1 or 2 midfielders and I would like a proper left winger ala Barry as a wildcard loan. Also I would prefer a backup keeper but doubt that will happen.

Brennan looked badly injured hobbling off after the whistle with his ankle very heavily strapped.

Like I know I don’t have all the facts and him not being there today could be 2+2=5
…but…I get selling Reed. I can even understand selling Gladwin. They’ve been bit part players this season at best and both have 6 months left on their contract. I can see the logical in selling them.

I can not fathom why we would want rid of MacDonald? He’s featured when not injured and he provides a skill set the rest of our current defenders don’t. Even if the direct choice was between him and FBT I think FBTs skill set would be easier to replace.

Just throwing out names to illustrate the point but I’d rather lose FBT but get Tomlinson in & keep MacDonald than say keep FBT at the expense of MacDonald. Feel he would be harder to replace.

Cain > Iandolo.

Minturn > Brennan maybe too.

Did well to get a point after that awful first half. In some ways, Morris would have learned more from that than if we had fannied around for a 1-0 win. Glaringly obvious where our strengths and weaknesses lay.

credit where it's due - totally changed the game with the subs after the first half selection cock up.

did think it was risky leaving khan on, but he's key I suppose.

RHM ... oh the chance

A Grimsby fan who knows someone close to Macdonald says he’s on £4500 pw. Maybe that’s the answer.

From what I have been told MacDonald wants to move back closer to his Yorkshire home and most of the motivation is said to be financial, mostly on his part I understand.

He is absolutely not on anywhere near that amount.

Frustrating in the end but will take the point. Without the tactical naivety of the first half should have been a comfortable win.

Cain looked decent and Minturn deserves a chance ahead of Brennan for me.

RHM guilt edge chance aside is a waste of a wage isn’t he, literally can’t go a game without injury and looked like his hamstring again. Khan deserves a decent fine, doing that just after we equalised is unforgivable.

I thought RHM was cramp.

was it his cross for the equaliser?

He was reduced to only being able to walk 5 minutes before he went down.

It was cramp at the end. And yes his cross made the 3rd.

it's annoying because Khan actually goes to pull out of the challenge and then still can't resist brushing his arm against the players back at the last second.

It's soft but the risk you take. He's a walking red card but when he's left all alone in midfield for the 1st half is it any surprise?

I can’t imagine the issue is his wages being too much. We signed him to his contract. Be utterly bizarre to sign a player and 6 months later decide we can’t afford him. It’s not like it’s even a contract from a previous regime.


I can fully understand and appreciate that but firstly I’m sure he knew where Swindon was before he signed for us & if he didn’t more fool him for not checking!

Secondly, might be harsh on my part but just because he wants to move further up north doesn’t mean we have to accommodate that at the expense of our team.


Lastly, I remember when Wellens wanted to move back closer to home. Wife must have done his head in because he now manages Leyton Orient which is even further away!

I agree, maybe he just hasnt settled in the area too. That part I have no idea about, but he was quick enough to sign for us and on the wages he was offered, seems to have changed recently though for whatever reason.

Gunning says he doesnt know why Macdonald wasnt in the squad :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

He’s had nothing but pelters on here. Now people are moaning that he’s going.

As with all transfers, let’s see who his replacement will be.

Gav Gunning 🤣🤣🤣

He's just confirmed MacDonald is off by not answering why he wasn't in the squad.

But he did it so Gunning style

why is he not in the squad? dunno
but.. you pick the squad?.. thank you

I've not given peleters. ok to be disappointed?

He’s not had pelters from me, ever & yes I am moaning that he is going. My stance hasn’t wavered on that.

If our fans have been giving him pelters (and you’re right they have) that says a lot more about our fans footballing intelligence than MacDonald.

I wish Macdonald would play as a solid defender instead of doing stepovers and the like.
Although if he's off I don't really care :)

Gunning:
- Mixed emotions
- Very disappointed with first half
- Only us in the game in the second half even with 10 men
- Two points dropped
- Lost our shape in first half
- Everyone wanted to be up in the front line rather than giving depth, like what we'd worked on
- Thats why he made 3 changes at half time
- Could have changed 1 to 11 at half time!
- Changed formation and tried to utilise space we could work in
- Gunning admitted he could have crumbled under pressure of first half, but would rather do something, give it a go and lose 5-1 rather than do the same thing.
- Cain came on and had an affect on the game
- Both penalties were 'rascal' decisions
- McDonald:
Hawes: 'No McDonald. Talk about him leaving?' (paraphrased)
Gunning: 'I have no idea'.
Hawes: 'Why was he not in the squad?'
Gunning: 'I don't know'
Hawes: 'Do you not pick the squad?.....Sorry to be pedantic,  I've got to try to find out what's going on, its my job!'
Gunning: 'Thank you'
Hawes: '......OK. Lets move on'
- Gladwin: Good guy around the squad. It will be a loss. We'll adapt. Players leave and players come in. He can hold his head up high. Been a fantastic servant to the club in 2 spells. He's a great guy.
- Anyone watching the second half will see the pathway we are looking at
- Khan was fantastic, but its a silly decision maybe. Don't think he actually fouls him, think it was someone else.
- Couple of games in charge: Fantastic experience. A lot to learn.
- Shows that the new manager will be buzzing with the second half
 

All depends on who we bring in. If we bring in a defender with a bit of a presence and some experience then Macdonald is easily replaced. If we don’t then it raises questions about our intentions, next couple of days will be telling in terms of our ambitions for this season.

I thought you could appeal yellows in the case of mistaken identity.

Well I know you could

It's not contradictory or fickle to think two separate things:

1) The squad needs a MacDonald *style* defender to deal with battering ram type forwards

2) MacDonald *specifically* has been fairly disappointing this season. He has 21 MoM votes in 16 games, only five more than Brennan and two and a half times fewer than Clayton. Compare him to Greer, who is pretty much the patron saint of modern era CBs and he's had nothing like the impact.

Every player improves in their absence from the side. MacDonald has come out on the wrong end of a fair few physical encounters this season. We do look better with him than without, but that doesn't mean he couldn't be improved on. Let's see who comes in.

I rambled during the game, but the ref books Khan for "pulling back" but didn't book Gills 3 and 49 for the same thing.
It's really annoying there was no consistency...I guess I'm just glad the penalty for FBT's header and Khan's second yellow didn't cost us a point (directly)

Mad Gavs tactics in the first half were a shambles.

How do you go from playing great with 4231 to today which in effect was 3-1-6 with Williams playing nowhere near centre mid and Hutton pushed up as usual.

Thank god for Charlie Austin

Such a shame Lavinier isn’t left footed. He’s a class act.

I'm surprised no one else had said it but GG's response was a bit fucking Irish!

Gunning trying to convince us he doesn't know why MacDonald wasn't in the squad, is on the same level as my favourite betting analyst trying to convince us that Scott Lindsey was the stand out candidate for the Town job (maybe he was if no one else applied)!

Lord praise our saviour, Son of Duncan Shearer, Pele of Poole, Hoddle of Hungerford - Charlesworth Austino!

cone on bamboo, it's just gunning code for I'm not answering that

Well that was one of the strangest and most appalling officiating I have ever seen. Their pen was clean in his face, our pen was soft, their second goal wasn't a free kick and was also offside. Just the absolute dregs of clueless shite clueless league two incompetence from the ref and one linesman. What will be done? The same as always, absolutely fuck all!

Outside of that, their first goal highlights why we need at least one Centre Back signing yesterday.

Brennan hasn't looked up to it all season to me and today furthered my opinion of that.

Jephcott and Austin are central strikers so it has to be either one of them in that formation and the other on the bench, or its two central strikers in a 4-4-2. I don't want to see them both on the pitch with that formation again, it clearly doesn't work.

Hepurn-Murphy again, so close to being a great player and just misses an obvious chance to square it. Being a bit more alert would increase his performance tenfold.

At least we're creating a fair amount and do look good going forward. If the officials hadn't completely fucked us, we may have won comfortably and bounced back from the one shocking piece of defending.

Exactly. Playing 4-2-3-1, we are 7-0 up in 1.5 games. The fact we spent 45 minutes playing the non-formation today was bizarre. It didn’t work. Why change from Grimsby?

Otherwise, onwards and upwards. Let’s see what these new boys in charge have got. All hail Lord Sandro for being the sole reason they are here (according to the script he gave the RealEFL). They are as lucky to have us as we are to have them.

Centre backs needed. Brennan had a poor game. FBT reassuring as ever. Cain looked good when he came on. Neat, tidy, but I hope we see a right foot as well at some point. Khan average first half, better second, and then needlessly sent off. Wakeling largely absent. RHM did well when he came on, with an absolute beaut of a cross for the equaliser. The goal would have capped it, by it was a good save. Lavinier very good, even if he’s on the wrong side. Jephcott had no service. Austin did what Austin does.

Were you surprised he took Williams off?

How did months look for his 15/20 minutes of so?

Do you mean Minturn? Looked ok

I don't think it was a coincidence that our previous good run in form this season dropped as MacDonald got injured. I think his affect on the team on the pitch through leadership and experience trumped the odd dodgy moment or two he was sure to have. 

Brennan really didn’t fancy it today against 28 (or 20, to be fair). Out muscled, out thought, and often out of position. His passes always go behind or directly at his man… never giving them something to move on to.

Williams was injured

Bizarre game really. At half time I felt like we’d at least draw, never would have felt that under Lindsey. The subs were ballsy but worked a treat and Cain looks a special player. Hepburn should have squared it but can understand why he wanted to score. Minturn miles better than Brennan who we should send back, absolutely useless. Happy with a point and in the mix for Morris . Keep the attacking football coming! :pint:

For just 20 years old Minturn, when you consider he's one of our own, certainly looks no worse than Brennan, Harries or Baudry have.

Long term, he could slot in nicely next to Clayton.

How long is his contract?

Cheers Quaggy I had limited updates of the game this afternoon so assumed he was taken off with the other two for not performing.

Under Lindsay, we had taken 8 games since 22nd October to score 8 goals. Since he's left, we've netted 8 times in 2 games. With Lindsay out, Austin and new regime in, we've certainly got a chance.

Fair play to him for changing it at halftime.
Getting Khan some help in midfield made us much more solid, and we even managed to start winning defensive headers.

.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MPiA-DBmv0w

The loss of a leader aka MacDonald was clear to see with all the first 3 balls into our box and the resulting goals against. Khan looked like he'd taken something and deserved to go by being a part. Iandolo was his completely useless and one sided self, Cain much better. Hepburn-Murphy and Shade to his credit, made a difference. Still, a poor reasult against a dog shite side. Looking like play-offs at best at the moment.

Ellis Iandolo is struggling in the set up. Not going to single him out as a few first half were missing.

If Hepburn-Murphy scores that one on one, dreamland.
3-1 and the wheels came off 😂

Today impressed by the fans that stuck by the team, a few mild boos at halftime but picked up the players and put pressure on the referee who was having a shocker.
Both pens tame.

Makings of a half decent side, Centre half and midfielder, strength on the left and we will challenge.
Despite the rivalry Gillingham turning up created some rare atmosphere at the CG.
Detest this league and everything about it - we have to get out soon.

since of those boos were at the ref, I think. they turned into a chant at him straight after anyway.

Duke, can you ask your next door neighbour to ask his son to ask Gladders if he wanted to leave STFC - it might resolve things..

What a match

Thought we really missed McDonald in the first half, he isn’t the best with the ball at his feet but he is a very good defender. I’d rather have a McDonald than a Conroy in this league

A little. But he wasn't having the greatest game by his standards.

Well that explains it. He didn't look that bad.

Charlie looked a bit fucked towards the end though. Hopefully not serious.

Cheers Chalky, Quaggy also said he was injured.

the problem is we tried to play 5 (wbs) 2 3 and Willo roams to much into space to help khan. that's his game.

iandolo got sucked into the left side of midfield too much too given he was supposed to be CB.

I thought we'd adjust, but I thought we would do so to accommodate Williams. As it happens Gunning got the reshuffle right.

a couple of radio listeners near us also thought he was injured, but there was no mention of it in the post match. I don't think Hawes asked specifically like he normally does though

minturn deserves a chance. looks so composed and confident.

clayton confirmed he will be back next week which is an added bonus.

first 12 minutes was just a shell shocked positional nightmare.

we deserved to win following the next 78 minutes.

enough on display to look forward to this jody morris era

I'm surprised you think any of the first half was decent.

decent is pushing it! i just meant deserved to win more than them. Gillingham suprised me how quickly they went into a defensive shape after their 3rd but saying that we went almost straight into the 4-2-3-1 of previous and we started to turn the corner very slightly.

We had some good chances and austin had a couple past the post which would have made the half time mood a bit better. 

We scored 4 of the 5 vs Grimsby after switching to 343

The issue today was thinking it would work against 11 men

I did! Fing autocorrect!

I think on about the half hour mark it did switch to a back four and pushed iandolo into midfield. Massive cock up in approach to start the game which ultimately cost us three points

2 points

And the personel to use it

Gunning called Iandolo over and told him to push into midfield.  Oddly, it didn't look like a message went out to the other because FBT was asking where to play a few seconds later.

It wasn't even 3-4-3.  It was two left backs (Iandolo kept sliding too far over, went wandering for their first), Williams playing a number 10 role and three central strikers getting in each others way.

Someone mentioned how Jephcott got little service.  I don't agree, part of the issue was the three muddling the space and the other part is that he just doesn't go looking.  He's a poacher you need to feed, and we really don't look like ever being able to support him.  Austin managed to shape about 5 or 6 chances (not clear ones) with the same service - he went looking, found a yard off of a shoulder, drifted wide etc.  I would send Jephcott back, unless we go and sign some wingers and a big man up top or someone who runs defenders ragged to play next to him, which isn't going to happen now we signed Austin.

Haha, bloody hell yes you’re right

And yes, dmc. No idea what gunning was thinking. Williams isn’t disciplined enough to play as a central midfielder, and Jephcot not mobile or energetic enough to be anything other than a target mAn. Those first 15-20 minutes were some of the most disjointed a side I have ever seen

gillingham 1st goal was laviner losing the ball, iandolo committing to cover, khan not following his man.

Indeed, all three of them.  Khan being a player who is out of non-league (so expect some ups and downs), Lavinier is a bloody right back and Iandolo a squad player at best who has always wandered.  About two mins after he was told to push into midfield he went and overlapped Lavinier.  I know FBT had a good second half, really good one, but he was just as much involved in the first half shit show - also him and Brennan kept getting swapped around leaving us with defenders on their wrong feet.

Oh, and I know I am being harsh and this is league two so they are playing like that for a reason etc.

That is precisely why you should be making the game as simple as possible for the players - put them where they are most comfortable.

Side note.
Made my day managing to get a photo with Joe Wilkinson as he was going into the away end. What a man.

Additional side note. Robins suite hospitality compared to 1879 suite is like league 2 to Premier league.

For such a small price difference the quality of food is staggering and wouldn't be doing that again.

If I wasn't a swindon fan and I had invited someone to that I would have been a bit embarrassed. 1879 is top notch and will book further in advance to make sure I'm on that again or not worth doing it at all

1879 is the main one right?  If so, did that when I came back for xmas the year before last and it was surprisingly good.  I'd done it in the past and got the usual bland chicken effort, but this was very tasty.  Just needed the drinks ordering sorted out.

yh it is. the worst tease was a plate of 1879 came through the room to a member of staff and it was a tease seeing it compared to the 2 meal buffet. the drinks ordering isn't that bad for half time especially, write down what you want on the piece of paper and its waiting for you as you walk in.

rob angus was very visible and chatty to everyone. lavinier spoke very well as did tom clayton pre match

Shambolic defending coupled in with some rotten officiating in the first 20. Wasn’t shocked mind you, we had the same ref forest green away last season and he was just as shit towards us.

Brennan bullied the entire game. Far too weak. FBT my MOM - brilliant. Need a left back with a left foot ideally. Iandolo fucking shite, be unreal business to sell him and get somehow get money. Easily replaced. Sentiment the only thing with him now and sandro has zero time for that. Khan a great player, but he’ll never played above League 1. He’s got no fucking brain, second time this season, and he’s been close to a double yellow in other games. Hepburn Murphy brilliant assist but criminal not to square. Cain looked good

Crying out for centre halves. Need two, 1 replacement and 1 extra body. Gladwin replacement and another 1 or 2 needed imo. If they flog Williams….. wow. Surely not.

Just read on another forum (but not seen in first hand) that Neil Harris didn’t think ours should have been a penalty (yeah agree with that) but Jills being given one was the correct decision (how on earth could anyone think getting hit on the face is a penalty)

A few views from their forum (Sorry Mr Venkman 🫢)

Just been looking at their forum. They are truly a bunch of arrogant twats. A bit of consternation as the left back has been recalled by Burton.

Lady Luck still with us as the defender takes one in the face but is penalized for the handball.

Give us a wave with all your extra fingers, Venkman 👋
His verdict on the first half: "Lets face it, Gills are fucking shite and a one man team...hoof to Hawkins. They are there to be beaten, if we can put a better performance in this half.”

Swindon were clearly there for the taking and looked so shaky at the back but we've just dropped deeper and deeper and deeper.

How have we gone from 1-3 to deserved losers?

Swindon were crucifying us on the flanks the extra man at the back nullified that to an extent. Swindon are no mugs and Gills were always going to be under the cosh.

Swindon also changed formation. First half they pinned 4 men up against our defenders which left their midfield wide open and their defence exposed if we won a tackle or intercepted a pass. 2nd half they were much more balanced

Swindon Town are not Colchester United, that tactic worked last week, but not this week against a Swindon Town Team who constantly pass the ball, get into good areas, and have got players with genuine quality.

I was surprised we didn’t start with a 5 at the back, given the quality Swindon possess going forward and their decent wide players.

Swine were clearly dodgy at the back but if they are a good possession team and come at you in waves with dangerous wide men, it is easier said than done to maintain any pressure yourselves.

was frustrated by the second half but the Swine got their tactics horribly wrong in the first half and we benefited from that / exploited it, second half they sorted their act out and showed why they are in the top six.

For me, in the second half before the changes, Swindon were attacking us at will down the flanks

Swindon on the other hand had bags of it and had very dangerous wide players. Good point. 3 goals. Great away day.

Unfortunately for us today they have a top class striker, not many players in this league with movement like Austin showed for the equaliser.

As I posted earlier, Swindon are no mugs and are 6th for a reason. Plus, good point re Charlie Austin, good, intelligent player, back at the club he started at. Without him in the Swindon side all 3 points would’ve been ours. However over the 90 a draw was a fair result.

Most of those seem fairly level headed and fair to be honest.

That was my opinion too

Waited patiently for the what I thought would be decent highlights after a 6 goal thriller, disappointed the game received barely 15 seconds.

I would like to see the RHB break at the end again. There was a player on his right that was totally open.

I want to check to see whether a pass or a shot was the best option.

Obviously, since the keeper saved the shot, without reviewing it, a pass feels better.

Having watched it again, the player available (Charlie) would have scored if the pass was perfect. But he was very tightly marked and I think that it was as likely that the pass would be cut out as the shot would be saved, which is what transpired. If Austin was wide open the shot was the wrong choice, but he wasn’t, so I think having a pop was fair

After watching it back, I don’t think it’s on

https://mobile.twitter.com/jiff1967/status/1619377440593256448

Thought the runner was Darcy

It was.
No way Austin is getting in that position from our penalty area that quickly, he could barely move.  :D

My bad 🙈

Point each probably a fair result. Without meaning to lay into Lindsey too much still, the marked difference between his regime and whatever we’ve got now, was that even at 3-1 down at HT, I felt confident we’d be getting something from the game in the end. Wouldn’t have had that previously.

That said I was questioning whether I’d dropped something in my pre match cuppa, first half, such were the opening 20 minutes so fucking psychedelic. The defending, the penalty given for being smashed in the face at point blank range, the formation with a midfield of Khan and…..Khan? Absolute madness all round. Glad we changed it soon after but that was a pretty criminal set up giving a team we should be beating at home a 2 goal head start.

At least it was exciting.

Another 20+ shots game, a big positive.

8 were probably from Charlie alone getting his head to crosses :)

The biggest positive for me yesterday was Austin's second goal. His movement in getting in front of his man and the finish.
We have the best striker in the division, now let's hope Morris sorts out the obvious shortcomings and we are going up.

He answered it by not answering it.  :)

Fun fact, Charlie Austin is now tied 4th for our top scorer of the season after two games:

Williams 8
Jephcott/Wakeling 5
Darcy/Shade/Austin 3

Also on Jephcott and Wakeling - neither have scored since November 12th (Wakeling) or October 29th (Jephcott).

Austin is clear as our top scorer in the last three months, despite playing two games in that period. Lavinier and Williams have two each.

Agree with all of this.

Well that was a match and a half!

Quick start, shambles defending and I couldnt believe he gave a pen for that, you could see it from space, that was terrible.

3-1 down and i thought that was that, they would spoil and hand on.

Pen for us was a leveller...never.

Could of won it.

Lets get the new Manager in, players in and out and go again v the Taffs.

One thing is for sure, two games on the bounce and i have left the CG having been excited a welcome change to the turgid stuff we were having to endure.

Did anyone leave at half time?  :hmmm:

4:1 and i would of hit the pub...again.

I'm never too hard to convince to go back to the pub when things are fucking shit, but its more about the performance and how we're looking.

I always thought we looked the better side, it was just a question of time. One bad defensive mistake and then absolutely royally fucked in the ass by the officials and suddenly we're 3-1 down.

I was always confident we'd score, it was just a case of if it was a consolation, a draw or a win as long we didn't go and do something silly at the back again.

It was more encouraging than a lot of Lindseys wins.

He may have missed but, if it was criminal to shoot, I wonder what pelters DHM would have taken had he opted out of shooting and passed instead to Darcy without a goal resulting?

A perfect pass - and with no chance of interception - would not have been materially easier than shooting.  Credit to the other Morris, the Gills keeper, for a great save and also positioning.  

Tbf, Messi would have feinted to pass to Darcy on his right and taken it round the keeper the other way and slid it into an empty net.

to be fair you could say the same about Hawes. After Darcy and Cain came on, whenever Cain got the ball he kept calling him Darcy. At one stage he confused Minturn and Austin! He's a great commentator but his does have a habit of not being able to recognise players very well. This point may have already been made, but I'm only on 17/31 currently.

another interesting thing about Saturday was the possession stats that I've seen reported.

at no point did it feel like passing for passing sake. shit at times, good at times. but not boring and slow.

shows possession can be had and not bore us to death

72% apparently

Austin played the last 5 minutes or so with the inability to move more or less. Basically every time the ball came to him he would leather it as hard as he could in whatever direction he was facing. He nearly gave away a needless corner doing this! Fair play to him for lasting the 90, a shame he couldn't have been replaced to keep him fresh for future games.

Yeah, could do with an update on his fitness really.

I cba doing a more detailed summary of Saturday as a lot has been said, but I felt that our play was much more 'fluid' than under SL. Shade for example started off on the left, and then moved to the right and then back to the left for instance. I know someone else said league 2 players probably require things to be kept simple but I like the fact that Gunning was brave enough to play this way in order to keep the opposition guessing. In the end we probably should have won and I think Gillingham will probably be kicking themselves for shutting up shop when surely our defence was shaking like a shitting dog after the first 15 minutes.

I think once things settle down it's probably going to be Charlie for 70, Jeff Cott for 20. Don't think they can play together.

He is all good was just fucking knackered . Will be fine for Saturday

Yeah, Its either them as a 2 striker partnership or one of them as the central striker in a 3. It definitely isn't both of them in two as a three.

 

TBF for some reason I always got Hockaday mixed up with Leigh Barnard, I'm happy to cut him some slack

But Stumpy was really blonde. He had that sort of John Moncur moptop