Thetownend.com

On the basis that, barring a literal miracle, the season is gone, what do you want to see from the remaining games?

I'd like to see if Brewitt/FBT could be a good enough pairing for next year
See Clayton tried in a DM role
Get Tomlinson a decent run of games at LB and see if he can prove his fitness to make the signing permanent
Feed Austin as many goals as possible so that he enjoys it enough he stays
Find out if Shade is good enough to be a starter
Try Lavinier at RB on the basis that the mood music is Hutton is off
Try Khan as a #10
Give Adeloye some minutes as we are likely stuck with him!

Don't disagree with too much. Minturn a good few games? Maybe even give Roberts, Shade a few consecutive games too.

Basically play who will be under contract next season.
Don’t play those who are definitely leaving.
Shoot.
Defend corners.

Haha.

I forgot to add, never see Kadji in a Swindon shirt again.

Kadji is young and big and will improve I think.

But, hes nowhere near good enough for L2 yet, and how can a player who is about 6 foot 3 not be able to jump and win a header? or for that matter find a team mate with a pass.

Its blatanet he was a panic loan signings and its just not worked out for him here, he could improve for sure but he isn't anywhere near the quality we need at the club currently though.

There is no point us trying to improve him...

27 points.  :beers:

Agree with some of that for certain, if Austin isn't fit, which he blatantly isn't currently then yes give Adeloye some game time, why not, we may see if there is a player in there or not, currently erring towards the not.

I would like to see Tomlinson tried at right back as well as left back (not at the same time!), hes right footed but can play anywhere in defence so try him out.

Clayton has played DMC for Scotland U19 and U21s so knows the role, with FBT and Brewitt behind him it could well work, more so than 3 at the back so far for me.

Lavinier seems to love breaking with the ball so try him in an a box to box role in the middle, again he has played in midfield for Spurs so its not an alien position, maybe even in the Williams role.

Not sure about Khan in a number 10 role as he doesnt contribute enough in the opposition half for me, he looks lively in our half and breaks up play well and has pace but rather see him a slightly more defensive role/ball carrier.

Minturn needs some more game time but without the pressure of HAVING to play due to injury or suspension, bring him on in games to get him used to it before needing to rely on him.

Shade, I am sure there is a player in there somewhere but he needs to find his best position and role, I would press him into the number 10 role and not as a wide striker/winger as his delivery is not good enoug but he can create havoc running at players.

Roberts is a wild card and he may work he may not but again give him time off the bench and see.

For me Hutton is just not with it since deadline day and hes not getting the crosses in that he should, I would drop him for Lavinier/Tomlinson for a few games and see if its the tactics or the player that is the issue with his drop in form.

Yes, I think Shade will work best as a purely floating 10. Doesn't seemingly have the tactical discipline and dare I say the commitment to do have any defensive duties. A 'luxury player'

Think we’d see the best of Shade as anyone of the three in a 4231

There are a lot of fringe players in this squad, and a fairly promising looking raft of academy players. Let's try and learn which are the 2-3 that it's worth investing in, rather than having 10 of them meaning that none of them have enough chances.

Tyrese Simpson was useless in the air too - albeit not 6’3”

Is he not fit for a specific reason at the moment or is he not fit as age has caught up with him as the Aussies suggested when we signed him, if its the latter will probably need a pretty hard nosed decision to be made for next season as I assume he is occupying  a fair wedge of the wage budget.

Obviously he’ll need a level of fitness but really we shouldn’t be asking a 33 year old poacher to do much, if any work outside the final 20 yards.

I would take him next season if available better than Jephcott😀

Not entirely certain as the angle from the Town End isnt great but I am not sure Jephcott even touched the ball after he came on, on Saturday.

We need to return him as soon as we are able too as he just doesn't fit this system.

Make a decision on the players that are constantly out on loan eg Roberts,Dabre,Parsons, Cowmeadow and Massey. Should know by now if they are worth keeping.
Don't think the manager and the players will be giving up on the play offs yet. At least not publicly

Torquay. Hmmm....

Jephcott is to McKirdy what Eliot Benyon was to Austin..?

Jephcott plays in a different position, but is about an adequate replacement to McKirdy as Benyon was. Jephcott from Plymouth to Torquay seems like a logical step.

Where did this Torquay rumour come from?

Jephcott will be the next Revell.
He’ll end up somewhere like Newport and score against us every time he played against us.

Not "come from" anywhere, can just see it as a logical step in his career as he's not good enough for L2.

A player with a 1 in 4 goal ratio in league 1 and 2 will not struggle to get clubs in the football league.

There is a player in Jephcott, just not in our system.

Remember Michael Smith had his doubters but he's done ok.

Literally years of your stomach turning when seeing his name in an opposition team sheet and KNOWING he'd score.

Donkey for us.
Mad to think Wilson signed him in favour of playing Billy Paynter - who went on to hit 29 goals that season…

I don't know about anyone else but as far as STFC goes I just want to wake up and it be preseason and feel that blind sense of excitement and optimism again. I can't face two whole months of zombie football.

Many have said this, and I know the club won't do or say anything until it is mathematically impossible to reach the playoffs, but there has to be a rapid and meaningful official statement of intent for next year/mea culpa for this season at that point. As it stands we will probably get news of what our coaches are getting up to in Karachi or an announcement of the official sponsor of the Town End puddle.

Have any other football clubs ever openly come out & attribute blame for the seasons failings?

Firstly, it doesn’t matter what the club says. People have already made their minds up where the blame lays

Secondly, surely it’s a bit unprofessional to start dissecting the season publicly and naming names.

If - the clubs internal decision is that Sandro has failed to meet his KPIs and he is indeed relieved of his duties - all the club will issue is a short statement about how he’s moving on, the club thank him for all his hard work and wish him well in his future endeavours.

…this need for blood from the fans is getting borderline obsessive now.

I think a lot are hoping for and will expect something like this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I_TN7oAA_U

Can't see where I've asked for either blame or blood here!

It is not uncommon for clubs to say a season has been a disappointment.

At the end of the day, they need to sell season tickets, so this is just a way of bringing people back on board.

Something along the lines of "The use of data and the signing of young players will continue to be a part of the strategy going forward but we appreciate that we got the balance wrong this season and will be adopting a more pragmatic approach, led by Jody Morris, next year with a view to achieving the short term goal of promotion from L2."

No one needs to go under the bus. But I think they could do worse than rebrand Sandro a consultant (if they have to keep him) and put Morris in charge.

Another thought, given you mention Sandro's KPIs. I wonder if he has a set target of transfer income per season, and that contributed to the January sales...?

Come on, guys. Isn’t it obvious that this season’s recruitment was solely a ‘suck it and see’ approach.

Some winners, some losers - just like every recruitment process.

If I’m pointing the finger it’s directed at Lindsey and the terrible injury rate/suspensions - 10 red cards, wow!

The thing that worries me is the number points we’ve lost due to late goals - Sutton, Carlisle, Rochdale and Stockport to name but a few. That’s got to be a mental thing and needs to be addressed in readiness for next season.

It can't be a coincidence that we have zero physicality. That has to have been a conscious decision.

Our current midfield makes a pairing of Sammy Igoe and Alan Young look like Makelele and Vieira.

It was. It was Lindsey’s preference for small, technical players.

Seems to have changed his tune at Crawley, mind.

Yet Lindsey had a win rate of 33.3% whilst Morris has one of 20%, with potentially a better squad with the additions of Austin, McEchran and Brewitt?

The cards thing is bloody odd as we seem to be continuing to rack them up at a fair old rate under Morris, whilst also noting that we seem to be a team of lightweights...

As for the late goals its either metal or they aren't fit enough...

You would have to after realising it doesn’t work, you’ve not got a good enough squad and you’re up to your neck in shit.

But Lindsey also had Gladwin, Reed and McKirdy (for 5 games) Baudry (12 games) add to that the sometimes decent Iandolo as a squad player who has been injured since Morris arrived, the suspension of RHM for 3 games, the suspension of Khan for 5 games, FBT for 5 games with injury, Lavinier injured for 4 of those games, the season ending injury to Brennan.

Slightly mitigating circumstances I would suggest to a poor run.

With a fully fit squad I would think we would have had better results as the defence has been a piecemeal for several games forcing us to play Minturn on a few occassions, a player who had never played a full game above Conference South level previously in defence for a few games.

Its far too early to judge Morris IMO and for me if Lindsey was still with us then results would have been even worse, just my opinion though.

But at the end of the season we can all say that recruitment fell short this season, some seasons it does but you regroup and move on and Morris will get players in who will play the roles in his prefered formation in the Summer and I think we will be hopefully up there next season if we can indeed add some good players and get rid of the chaff in the Summer.

Whilst I don’t disagree with what you’ve said - I don’t think we can put the mass amount of injuries we are getting all of a sudden down as an ‘act of God’
That many injuries in that short space of time - to me indicates that one (…or more) of the training / rest / recovery is wrong.

Exactly this, agree with you 100% especially your last paragraph. Gotta get it sorted this summer and hit the ground running.

Oh I don't disagree with you, including with that Morris will need time, just playing devils advocate and being a bit naughty.

Although this mischievous part of me wonders what sort of reception someone like Bircham, after all the wailing when it looked like he was favourite, would be getting in the same position with 2 wins in their first 10 games under the same circumstances.

Yes I know what you are saying, we are giving Morris a little more leeway I think that some newly appointed managers may have got, but I do think that whoever was manager could well be suffering the same fate on the pitch.

I agree, I think training must be at fault if not fully then partly so, I dont know if thats down to the current manager or the club training system which has not changed since Morris arrived?

It’s a huge assumption on my part based on nothing but Morris’ background but I do wonder if he’s trying to train L2 players on a field in Calne the same way he would train some of the worlds best teenagers in state of the art facilities with an U18s specific back room set up that dwarfs our whole clubs set up…

Again - must stress it’s purely speculation on my part.

We have been told by many that Morris is a top coach when it comes to youngsters and Brand too, what you are suggesting is not out of the realms of possibility at all.

I wouldnt know the difference between great, good or bad coaches/facilities and what is needed to satisfy the needs off the pitch but it could be that we do not have the facilities to fulfill his needs.

That would come down onto Clems shoulders to sort out and would probably need investment beyond his current finances as even if we did start building improvements now we may see no results for the next 2 or 3 years at least.

Yeah, exactly that.
It could all be hypothetical thoughts on our part but not ‘out there’ or ‘over the top’ enough that it’s outside the realms of possibility

I also get the sense that Morris felt that they weren't fit, which to my eye they weren't. If he has been pushing them, and we hear that in game they have been doing more than at any point in the season, then perhaps the famous 'load management' has gone awry. Injury crises tend to compound themselves too with rushing players back early to plug gaps. Might have been the case with Devine/Tomlinson. FBT was likely back early on Saturday and the plan can't have been for him to push 90+ mins either. We need to tread carefully. I'd add 'no injuries to key players for next season' to my list of aims for the remainder of this one.

Trying to be glass half full about this season and the next one.....

I feel under Morris, the team has slowly but surely improved, fitness levels are rising, and the team seem to be pressing as a team and working hard for the majority of the game. The negatives are that we've not seen any/much action in the final 3rd and whatever this zonal defense system is, they haven't got it bedded down yet as we are very prone to leaking easy goals.

In a way, we are rank outsiders now for doing anything this year, and I hope that eases whatever pressure was being felt so that we simply go out and play football. There a bunch of winnable games in the next 9 and whilst I may be utterly deluded and probably derided, there is a lot still to play for.

Next up Hartlepool....should be 3 points, then Mansfield, Tranmere, Barrow.....all teams around us. It seems like a big ask but 12/12 is possible, that will make the last 5 matches really interesting. There will be one or two teams in the Top 10 who have a poor set of results.

Recruitment. The Sandro approach has yielded one or two gems.....also one or two donkeys, and arguably we've been quick to cash in on experience and sold well established players on without anything substantial to replace.

If Morris can get in McEachran / Brewitt, who as out of contract are still good footballers, then what we get when he's got a blank canvas to start from, I will be excited to see.

Williams likely to go, will be a shame, but he's not running rings round anyone now in League 2, they all know he spends the majority of the time falling over and looking for a free kick, and no matter where that is on the pitch, we carry next to zero much threat of scoring from one, particularly as Cain seems to have been demoted to bench warmer (anyone know why? eg...Why Darcy brought on an not Cain who can make things happen with both feet and isn't powder puff running around)

Definitely need a call on Austin....either build a team to support feeding him in the box for next season or move him on and free up some wage budget. He should not be coming back to the half way line to get a touch of the ball. Me personally, I still think he's lethal in the box and would rather have him with us for a couple more seasons with a view to blooding him into coaching thereafter.

Hutton seems to have lost his ability to cross, but how much of that is because the balls played to him are generally behind him...if he had something to run onto at pace then maybe just maybe we'd see some goalmouth action.

Well....I started off saying glass half full, I have rambled a bit, but as a closing comment, I think we look better each mach under JM, and over time we will reap the rewards of his football knowledge and massive contacts list. However it finishes this year, we have a club, we own the ground and the future for our little bit of the footballing world is pretty positive. I'm sure we'll get out of Div 2 soon! That's what keeps me going back anyway.

All valid points and reasonable assumptions, no doubt more will be leaked when some players do leave.

I have been quite negative to the Sandro recruitment, and although I think this is partly to blame for this season, I don't think many are denying that. I would like to see this being more back ground, rather then forefront. I think his comments on every signing to be quite infuriating to be honest.

Their is an inherent lack of fitness and conditioning with the squad, that after the first half of the season, is now feeling the effects, especially with heavy pitches. Morris has no doubt pushed harder then SL, as this has compounded the issue further. This is what a preseason is for, we really only have  one person to look at here. Mr SL. Maybe a good coach on technical skill, but lacking on match prep side of things. (so maybe our sports and fitness department should be questioned a bit here also)

I'm already looking forward to next season, I like to think that the picture will look a lot more positive.

Definately this.

As long as Jodie can sign the players he wants to in the Summer I have a feeling it could be our year next year.

Just did a quick check, we are up to 41 players used this season - that just seems like a shocking number to me.

Just did another quick check and we are 11th and ten points from the play offs, that also seems quite shocking to me.

10 red cards - quite shocking.

Whichever way you cut it - the squad is shit (relatively speaking to the type of expectations we might well have as a club in Div 4).  It is loaded with players who "might" be good, but very few who actually are right now.  Many of those rough diamonds remain with pointy edges, some have barely managed a games worth of minutes and very few can get a loan sorted at any sort of decent level (which says a lot).

Blame can certainly be shared - both Managers have simply not done enough either, regardless of the hand they may have been played.  Rec recruitment has been painful - not just in terms of talent, but in terms of street smarts, the ready here and now type of players and in terms of squad positions - we have four left backs, not counting Lavinier.

Jody, it's Jody.

Jodie Marsh is our new manager. Sandro liked her....data.

Same shit its still a girls name! :D

Henceforth I shall call him JoMo.

First post here after being a guest lurker, awaiting the usual welcome   :D

I think the first thing in any setup for the remaining games would be based on if Morris has any preference towards a back 3 or back 4 next season.

I have reservations about our current CB options. Brewitt, Clayton and FBT are the competent options and all show some ability but I don’t think a combination of any of them will be good enough for a serious promotion push based on what we’ve seen. We’ve seen 2 left footers doesn’t really work (FBT+Clayton), leaving Brewitt plus one of FBT/Clayton if a back 4 is used. FBT I think is perfect for the left hand side of a back 3 with his ability to make driving runs. Brewitt seems a good find and Clayton has shown his potential when playing alongside an experienced CB partner. Tricky situation for Morris to solve but I imagine we’ll see at least one new face in that area.

In fullback/wingback we seem well stocked if we can keep any of them fit. Hutton seems likely to be off but I think a pairing of Tomlinson and Lavinier can be up there to compete with the best in this league IF kept fit. Natural wide players/wingers is what we seem to lack, Shade and Roberts seem the only “natural” options there but neither can get consistent time on the pitch, Hutton may also have been an option there.  Williams seems better central and RHM/Wakeling don’t look comfortable out there. RHM is very raw and a live wire that frightens opposition, if we ever went 4-2-3-1 then I’d like to see him in the middle of the 3, rotating with Williams, then 2 proper wide players either side.

What a cunt!

Welcome.

These all immediately sprung to my mind.

You may have to due to lack of fit numbers in certain positions, but we definitely need to prioritise players that will be here next year even if its a youth player over an international. If they're definitely not here, they need to be last choice.

I can see that.

He's been shit for us, but I don't think he is shit. We've been shit and he's had shit service and not been able to play well in spite of that.

Agreed. Eoin Doyle scores close to zero goals in this team. Doesn't make him shit.

Courtesy of drs via Twitter

we've seen even someone of Austin's quality can struggle to create in this team.

That he's got 6 is testiment to his quality and know-how (and Rochdale giving him an inch of space)

I know Garners football was boring to watch but we did create chances.

The run in was fantastic. The rest was largely competent tedium.

I would swap it for this season😀

6?

8 😀

ok 8

doh

He's already join top goal scorer for us

ok ok.

But the point still stands there have been games there be may as well have brought a book to read.

But you are proving a point - good players, even in shit systems, can make a big difference.  Imagine if every position had a Charlie Austin equivalent, or a few of them.  Many strikers have not had the return he has had, yet he hasn't really been playing in a team creating dominance and chance after chance.

Experience is key, although his legs may be going he's scored goals at the top level and knows how to get into the right positions and show he clincal he can still be.

indeed, can't disagree there

Obviously i was mainly using it to point out jephcott isn't totally to blame.

Jephcott scored goals for a more direct team so would imagine he would be looking for a club in league 2 that can play to his strengths.

I am sure that Jephcott when played in the right position and role is a decent player at this level, we just cannot seem to accomodate him in a way that will bring the best out of him it seems.

Agree - Jephcott was capped off at the knees when we didn't sign any other attacking talent to support him and let McKirdy go.  He has to play off someone or have physical athletes around him I think.  Let him focus on being in the box.  Austin is just a better version of him - between them they have 13 goals.  Austin all season maybe gets that over 18, even without the extra support players.  That's the difference talent + know how can bring you.

4 of those points (so just under a third) came from Mad Gav’s 2 games in charge!!!

Win the Wiltshire Shield!

Agree with quite alot of your ramblings there but there isn't much to play for at all.   We've won 5 games in 5 months, there is no way we will win the next 4, possibly wont win another 4 all season.   Should have beaten Walsall and Rochdale too but barely deserved a draw in either.

Also Cain hasn't impressed me at all, very young and will improve but reminds me of Anton Rogers, sideways, backwards passing and out of position alot.

Raced into a 3-0 lead (Adeloye & Kadji x2)
Pulled back 2-3 and (unsurprisingly) a man sent off (Kanu)

25 left to play

Season red cards (10) rapidly catching up with League wins (13)

It’s like Morris came in noticed we had a lot of short players & decided his best strategy was coaching them all into Dennis Wise.

Although Morris might not view our players as small

Snow White springs to mind.

More likely he is suffering from exactly the same issue Lindsey would have - an immature team.  Not necessarily mentally (I have no idea on that front) but in terms of the first team game smarts.  I very much doubt U23 football has all the niggling we see in Div 4 - the type that gets RHM sent off for example.  Khan is the surprising one - he's played at a lower level without much by way of a disciplinary issue it seems.  Maybe just the advancing game minutes and more experienced pro's winding him up.

Just like they are prone to more mistakes, as they haven't played proper pressure football yet.

No, it’s definitely the Dennis Wise thing.

Two red cards in 17 games when your actual Dennis Wise was our manager... would probably take that now.

That’s because Dennis Wise coached them to play like Gus Poyet!!

Khan is also one of the older players, but maybe the most immature.

When/where is the final? #10,000toWestbury

Final 9th of May https://www.wiltshirefa.com/cups-and-competitions/cups/2022-2023/premier-shield/fixtures

As for where, pretty sure the Wiltshire Shield final is always at the county ground

Maybe now, but I remember going to the final one year when it was held in Melksham.
If I remember Phil Smith was in goal & it went to penalties

If you click on the + button you will see  :)