Thetownend.com

Thought we could do with a Morris specific thread.

As I said yesterday I'm in now 'stage three': I've gone from genuine excitement, then to being an apologist and thinking he'd been dealt a rotten hand to now being concerned that he could prove to be a major misstep.

The players don't seem to be playing for him and yesterday's line up was bizarre/suicidal.

That said, we are not Chelsea/Man Utd. We simply can't afford to bin off Morris and Brand after a few months, which would cost us well over six figures. And nor should we. He has to have a window and a pre-season to be properly judged.

The 'model' is rancid, we can all agree, but his record in developing young players is right up there with anyone in football's over the last decade. He has so far proven to be well short in his understanding of how to succeed in L2 but I'm sure he will have learnt a huge amount about himself and the players over this period and provide that Michael Standing/Adam Hart/Zavier Austin Clem is prepared to give him the tools to bring in his own players next year I'm confident he will get us up there next year.

His contacts in the game will be a major part of why he was hired and he hasn't had a chance to do that. Our loans this season have been shambolic, so 3 or 4 crackers next season could make all the difference. Frank and his pals being back at Chelsea could help with that even more.

As an aside, I suspect that his hiring was a managerial extension of the 'model'. Get a young manager on a reasonably long contract and hope someone comes and gets him after a year, delivering us some sweet compen-Sandro. Again, it is a plan that lacks pragmatism. Getting out of this bucket of shit of a League should have been the only priority with hindsight.

I’d give him the summer to bring in his own players and the start of the season.

However, the complete regression of this current side is alarming to say the least. I think more of the squad than most on here but feel in a roundabout way we were closer to where we should be league wise - under Lindsey than we are Morris & Lindsey was not a good manager.

The tactics and selections are quite frankly baffling and for me he gets less of a free pass for the injuries and suspensions because they all came on his watch - so that to me (and it’s guess work on my part) comes from his training methods.

Sometimes it feels like he’s over complicating tactics/formations/play because he’s used to U23s where you need to play that way to showcase / develop your players. It’s a different game now, we need results.

Morris will either hit the ground running next season or we’ll waste a summer bringing in Morris’ players to play Morris’ formation and Morris’ tactics just to realise Morris is the problem and we get rid and end up bringing in another manager whose shit but won’t have had a summer to bring in his own players and we’ll have another limp season and start again.

(for me) the club need to decide right now. Either Morris is gone by Tuesday or he’s here till at least December.

It’s a gamble one way or another but isn’t it always?

A lot of rumours on Twitter that he’s lost the dressing room (from people who categorically aren’t in the dressing room) but those rumours always surface when teams are on a bad run of form don’t they?

Season is obviously done and dusted now. We need to start the prep for next season now. Offer those we want contracts now. Give them decision deadlines now (that hurt us last summer) those who are definitely not going to be here stop playing them (apart from Brynn as I’m sure there are finances linked to game time & neither of our keepers are going to be #1 next season realistically)

If that means we have Adeloye & Parsons up front, Cain as our main man in the middle and Minturn at the back then so be it.

One thing for sure we ain't getting out of league 2 if we don't have any physicality throughout the core of the team.

We were 6th when Morris took over, we are now 4 points off 19th place.

I’d get rid now, start afresh (again)
With our track record, that should give us enough time to get someone in before the start of next season.

Same here even if if he's replaced with Artell

…but…Mad Gav is already at the club!!

You joke, but it’s the best we’ve played all season.

I actually quite like the idea of giving it to Austin, and letting him bring an older head to support him as well as a DoF who actually knows what they’re doing.

I would also be worried about a few other things. I think the players going backwards under him is a concern but also for someone who was very Youth based he doesn't seem to keen to try and develope ours. These are the games now we should be playing Caine Minturn Clayton but he is dropping them from the squad entirely

Who said I was joking?

Honestly feels to me like.
Lindsey was a non league manager trying to act like an Under 23s manager in League Two
Morris is an Under 23s manager acting exactly like an Under 23s manager in League Two
Gunning came across like a former lower league player who knows the lower leagues setting up his team to play League Two football in League Two.

Morris questions the fitness levels and then because Morris said it - many on here questioned it as well.
We certainly didn’t look unfit under Gav. Getting about the pitch wasn’t an issue.

It would be interesting to to see the distance covered stats under each manager

I've seen enough. Get rid now. Easy decision.

I do think people are being blinded by what happens in the Premier League with regards to sackings.

Unless Morris has a performance related break clause at the end of the year, and given the shitshow that is our football admin I suspect we aren't that savvy, there is no way that our penny pinching regime gets rid.

Lets say he's on £100k a year, and Brand is on £50k a year. Total guesswork but it must be ballpark. We have also potentially spent on compo to Chelsea for Brand. It is inconceivable that we blow north of £200k to pay these guys' contracts out. It isn't going to happen.

Similarly, Morris isn't going to walk away from the job security of a 2 1/2 year contract. He said that unlike Lampard he couldn't afford not to get another job in football in the Jimmy Bullard podcast.

He is here to stay barring a freak event, and to be honest I think his management has just opened my eyes to how poor and unprofessional most of the squad is, which is pretty useful information going into the close season.

I'm sure that all of the above is quite right. I gave absolutely zero thought to my post...it's just what should happen in an ideal world, which if course is light years away from the murky, sad and depressing world of STFC.

I'm just sick to death of that mother fucking football club and am desperate to at least get out of division 4 (at the right end) before I die of old age.

Difficult one.
More concerned right now on what direction will be taken on the transfer policy close season.
Because carry on like this we could well be fighting for our League Status.

As for losing a dressing room, Wellens sorted out the beer drinking brigade and got rid. Rumours he had lost the dressing room.
These spineless players need to grow some.
I am far more concerned on who is still at the club in the top places.

If we ain’t got a pot to piss in pulling in 9,200 fans then we might as well pack up and tour the National League.
As for Morris, needs to be given clear instructions NOW on what close season is looking like, budget, Sandro (fuck him off) - can’t see that happening.

So many questions - season ticket money being held back from me.

Rob Angus? - What is going on.

Well lets face it mate we are in the Heinz club now we cant have many years left!

I think most of us think similar TBH.

100% this.
Fucking shite.

Before half time there were two lonely red tied and suit individuals sat on their own in the DB. One I’m sure was Aberdeen not sure on the other but everyone else around them had fucked off inside well before the HY whistle. Don’t regret leaving at HT not one bit. Go again this season? I doubt it.

I'm forever giving the manager time and to be honest Morris probably had no part in January transfer dealings, he can't lose the dressing room just yet saying they are a croak of shite.  :D

Were all frustrated and angry as fuck with League two, but we all still need to remember where we came from with the Club in the bad state the past 10 years.

Positives, we own our ground and not in a bad shape compared to others. Lets start prepping for next season with (hopefully) stronger budget.
Sort out who does the recruitment, sign some better/stronger players (decent ones want more than a one year deal we been offering the past 10 years) that would be the first sign of intent I will look at.

Under Morris we've become bad at the only thing we were previously *good* at, which was keeping the ball. Even if we didn't always hurt teams, we'd have the majority of possession and it was our lack of productivity in the final third that was the problem. Having smaller, technical players is ok if you control large parts of the game and keep the opposition away from your goal. What we have now though is a small side who are only having 50% of the ball and as a result, games are turning into basketball matches. Teams are getting too many fouls, corners, getting in behind us etc because we have no control of games. It's not being played on our terms, it's reactive and not at all proactive .I'd describe our defending as desperate and not at all controlled.

Whether you like Lindsay or not, there were performances during that unbeaten run where I thought we looked like a half competent football side. The away wins at Grimsby, Doncaster and Mansfield for example. I saw things back then that had potential. The Clayton/Macdonald partnership, Wakeling and Jephcott up front. Gladwin and Khan running games in midfield.

Since January it's all been ripped up. Selling the captain, vice captain. The Spurs CB falling through, signing a national league south player in Kadji. Also I hate to say it, but Charlie Austin doesn't strike me as somebody I'd want around in a crisis. His whole signing, fairy-tale aside, is actually quite alarming. A chairman signing a player that both DoF and Manager seemingly didn't want? hardly fills you with confidence that we are a serious football team. It's a bit of a shambles really.

I’ve said it before, but what’s the point of fannying around at the back, get pressed and then somebodyjust whacks it. Why doesn’t Brynn or whoever just get rid in the first place. It’s madness.

I saw multiple examples of Brynn ignoring instructions from Morris and the bench to go long yesterday. He looks like a rabbit in the headlights at the moment. We will have more than paid off the loan fee by now and should get the Ward deal over the line ASAP and play him in every match. He was massive in the run in last year.

Morris has said you need to mix it up and go long on occasion, so the players are either ignoring him or are not capable of executing instructions under pressure. 

Also, got to remember if we’re comparing last season to this, is we had some high quality loan players whereas this season we’ve decided to have more ‘owned’ players. Very laudable but it’s a factor in the decline.

Totally, and you'd expect Premier League U-23 managers to trust Morris in the way they trusted Garner next season.

That’s all well and good but filling the squad with loan players offers us nothing long term.

No one is suggesting 'filling the squad'. Having one or two great loan players has been central to almost every good Swindon team of the last 25 years.

It’s a fine line, for sure. Be interesting to see how many of the top 7 clubs are reliant on their loans.

It is just about sprinkling a bit of stardust.

Ferry and Ward, Foderingham, Luongo, Ryan Mason, Pritchard, Yates and Doyle, Benda, KKH etc.

Even the likes of JOB, Barry and Simpson.

Have people seen this?

https://twitter.com/LowerLeagueLook/status/1644815365908701187

For someone who was loved by the fans this is a window into what I think is a pretty miserable camp.

I remember a very early home game this season where Lindsey hooked Reed not long after half time and Reed came off with a face like thunder and snubbed Lindsey as he went past him to the bench and I thought 'Hmmm, that doesn't look like a good relationship.'

I do get the impression that something has gone very wrong behind the scenes this season.

There were rumours that people were upset that MacDonald came in and was made captain straight away. We then had him missing games before having his contract torn up.

In Morris' unveiling Press Conference Sandro said that there were players (plural) who had wanted to leave on deadline day and that they were unhappy moves didn't materialise and needed to get their heads down. We were well in the promotion hunt at the time. Why did people want to leave?

Hutton has looked as miserable as sin for months.

This all predates Morris' arrival.

Sometimes a manager inherits a broken dressing room and you need an opportunity to clear out the disruptors and those that won't fight for the team.

I honestly think we might not win again this year, but I'd still give him that chance.

Reed didnt help himselt turning up to the pre season training the most overweight and highest percentage body fat though. Didnt look after himself over the summer by all accounts. Should have fitted right in with Lindseys ‘play fatigued’ brain episode. Lindsey humiliated him that game when he bought him on in the 90th minute just to take a free kick so i suspect there was no love lost there.

MacDonald they had to get rid according to rumours on the grapveine. Doesnt excuse them not replacing him mind

Agreed, but I think that the point that all is not well behind the scenes, and hasn't been for some time, is a valid one.

I think Gladwin was probably the glue that 'kept the show on the road' too.

Reed will be non league in three years. System player who’s skills fit a very niche bracket which is rare at this level

We could have done with Reed on the pitch Saturday.

Would have slowed Mansfield attacking play down no end.

Oh absolutely. Gladwin looked devastated in those Crawley announcement pics, reminds me of how unhappy Matt Ritchie looked when we sold him and he didnt want to go

Hopefully, Austin fills that gap now. He needs some input in the dressing room and beyond.

Interesting fact:

Since Steve McMahon we have only had two managers who have completed two full consecutive seasons: Andy King and Mark Cooper.

That's 25 years of unrest.

Can't help but feel that may be a factor in our chaotic shitness.

No doubt it is but I expect those stats are going to be similar for a lot of lower league clubs.
In that spell: Todd, Evans, Wise, Sturrock, PDC, McDonald, Flictcroft, Wellens, Garner & Lindsey have all left of their own accord.

Off the top of my head. Really can’t remember if Evans walked or was sacked.

Lindsey nominated for manager of the month.

Yeah I looked this up a while back, we get a lot of stick for not sticking by managers but far more have chosen to leave than been sacked in the last 20 years.
.

If you actually look at the managers during that time and consider the circumstances of many of their departures I would say there was really only Sturrock, Wellens or Garner that could have built sustainable success. But all three jumped of their own accord.

Of the high profile appointments Di Canio would have bankrupted us and Wise jumped at the first opportunity.

Really only Cooper and Wilson had the opportunity to build long term, but both had the rug pulled from them in terms of transfer business after play off seasons.

FIFY

Bankrupting the club is fine it we get promoted though - isn’t it??

Still thinking of me, that’s cute!

Yeah, that’s what it was. You haven’t left my mind since your idiotic comment about Power. It’s all I think about.

Not that I just read your post and saw the hypocrisy, not at all. Definitely the first one.

 :D

Didn't you fully support the Di Canio period?

Didn’t we all before the full extent of our financial details came out & Black basically shut it down?

I hope Morris is not here next season.

Its at the stage where I wouldn't be arsed if he walked.

Then loses 4-0 to Barrow  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Don't laugh, we have Barrow next...

A 3-0 loss will feel like a win.

Two different group chats are going off on Morris tonight saying they have sources with not good information.

One says Morris does the bare minimum and doesn't even work on shape.

The other saying Morris lets them know the team the day of the game and not before and they don't analyse the games at all, just repeat the same drills.

No idea who their source is but curious timing. These two people don't know each other either. Someone at the club is slating Morris, that is for sure.

I was told by someone at the club the same thing. Apparently Morris turns up takes training and goes home.

Sandro trying to save his job by slating Morris?

The problem is he would cost too much to sack.

I got told Morris was Sandro’s man, so he would look pretty silly if he was slating his choice already.

Does he even want to be here though, because if the information I'm getting has truth, then it doesn't fucking sound like it.

Pete O’Rourke on twitter

Jody Morris under ever growing pressure as Swindon manager following four straight defeats. #STFC

Also heard similar. Finishes training early to go and play golf. Late to training all the time.

I suspect he has realised that his reputation is going down the toilet with literally every minute he is here. I wonder whether behind the scenes there are discussions regarding a mutual consent which is affordable to us and let's him go before he totally fucks up his future employment possibilities.


At what stage do the club tell him to either do the job he is being paid to do, or bugger off.

I was told exactly the opposite, Clem overruled Sandro on both Morris & Austin

Oh come on. That’s a rehash of the Sheridan saga isn’t it.

It does all rather have the ring of a person who took a job and then immediately regretted it once they saw what they had been given.  Some of the post match analysis is interesting - he can see what is happening, but the on field set-up for the next game suggests no learning.  That could be because he simply can't be fucked with it I guess.  No idea.  It's not working, whatever the reason.

Does make you wonder if Morris was interviewed or if he just became available and his profile got him the job.

Not saying he would have done any better, but I got told Artell was extremely impressive at interview.

Wether you’re Jody Morris or Charlie Farnsbarns. If a new job beckons you’ve done due diligence before accepting the offer surely?

If we went after JM he’d have had deep and meaningful negotiations with us via his agent who would have done his homework on behalf of his client first. Even if he came to us after finding out there was a vacancy the same would have applied.

You would personally as matter of course engage in some ‘homework’ on your next employment target before an interview wouldn’t you? Course you would.

Therefore a lot of T’s were crossed and a lot of i’s dotted before pen was put to paper…on both sides.

Watch this space a lot of things going on behind the scenes.

I so wish Lampard had taken Morris to Chelsea. I also wish Brand had only been given on loan.

That way we might have been able to have a clean start with a new manager and new squad. I thought that Artell would have been the safer bet, given he’d had success at this level. But, didn’t really know.

Think I just want a change, but doubt we can afford it.

There is clearly a fairly serious whispering campaign against Morris, and the results on the pitch are hardly helping.

I'm struggling to buy the 'he doesn't give a fuck and is sat on the golf course' story. The bloke has been in football his whole life and openly stated how desperate he was to succeed in management, and he's been trying to get a job for at least two years since he and Lampard got binned at Chelsea.

I simply don't believe he has gone full Sheridactyl in the space of 3 months.

By all accounts he was extremely highly thought of at Derby in their season there, and had as good a rep as a youth coach as it is possible to have. Better than Garner's for example. It isn't first team management, but you don't get a free pass to be a total cunt there either.

I'm sure coming from Chelsea's setup at Cobham to this has been something of a culture shock, but he's played at St Johnstone (again where many fans credit him with sparking and inculcating a culture of professionalism and success that set them up for a decade) so he must have known it isn't always like that!

No doubt he has some buyer's remorse and is fucked off with what has happened but it just doesn't make sense to me that he has gone full kamikaze, which could torpedo his career.

There has to be more at play here. He's made a lot of mistakes, not least of which he always says 'they' when we lose rather than 'we' which isn't great (so much so that I wondered if this was a mini dig at him by the media man... https://twitter.com/Official_STFC/status/1645455123953459208), but none of this makes sense to me!

Yeah, its a little on the nose for me. Its come out of nowhere all of a sudden from various sources when the early noise was impressive training sessions.

Who knows what to believe.

These rumours always surface when we go on a bad run.
That’s not to say they aren’t true but that’s also not to say they are true.

On the subject of rumours, has anyone else heard Morris wants to bin off the fitness consultancy company which oversees things here but has been told no due to someone connected to them *allegedly* being a fairly significant investor in the club.

I’ll leave it there, but it won’t take much guessing who that person is.

Adam Hart. No relation to Bret but probably knows a few hitmen.

also not a director because that was a misprint, obviously

This appointment will not work out well IMO for the following reasons.

1) Morris is working with players that cannot do what he wants them to do. He has come from an environment where he is working with world class players that can carry out the instructions that you want them to undertake. League 2 players are in this division for a reason, because they're not very good, respectfully.

2) The funds are not there to put in place what Morris wants / needs.

3) He is not a natural manager. He is a coach. Big big difference.

4) The club cannot afford to sack him and Ed Brand & then employ others.

5) The rot has set in and rumours of discontent. That is very hard to turn around especially when you're losing every week. The message being given becomes hollow words.

6) Already seeing a very despondent, negative demeanour in interviews. This filters through to fans, players and the board

But there are examples of similar managers/coaches from the same background who are successful.

Like who mate out of interest who have come from the PL to league 2 and been successful?

Off the top of my head Mark Bonner and Michael Duff - and in our current shitshow even Garner seems successful!

There are a number who have been successful in L1.

Between Morris and Kevin Betsy at Crawley, it's been a very poor year for top academy coaches having a crack at L2. It does work sometimes though, Critchley did well at Blackpool.

Mark Bonner has been nowhere near a PL side or players mate & nor has Michael Duff.

Try again.

Genuinely would like to know of a coach / manager who's worked & played with World Cup playing players, Champions League winning players and then done well in League 2.

Then completely failed at QPR.

Sometimes it just isn't a good fit and that's the situation with JM & Town.

I would cut my losses to be honest. I think financially for next season he is too much of a gamble. I am personally getting PDC vibes of a different nature. I get the impression when the window opens he will sign a few players and by the time it closes he won't like them.

The key thing for me is how there has been no improvement from one player and i reckon i could safely say that every single player has got worse under him.. I may me wrong  

DiCanio, Wellens Joey Barton

Duff was with Burnley.

Yeah only RHM may have improved but that could be due to him not being injured and getting more training and games in.

The Di Canio one is interesting. If it wasn't for the fact that our owners were loaded and he was essentially able to buy a new first XI mid season he could well have got us relegated. His initial pre-season team, and early results, were garbage. Alberto Comazzi, Ibrahim Atiku, Mattia Lanzano... horrific stuff.

You could say that about Macari

Macari stuck with his squad and improved them though where as PDC fucked people off and just kept on until he signed better. Too early but i do get the impression Morris will be like that

Fair point, the only player I can remember he got rid of without giving him a chance was the goalkeeper Jake Findlay.

Bloody hell, there are already people publishing who could take over from Morris

https://the72.co.uk/2023/04/11/3-out-of-work-managers-swindon-town-must-consider-amid-growing-pressure-on-jody-morris/

I get the point that maybe the players can’t do what Morris wants them to do…but…even the best managers with the best left backs wouldn’t put two of them in at centre back and expect them to provide a solid defence.

Spot on, good managers adapt to the level. Different levels i know but Duncan Shearer said it on the pod best, after about a month of training with the players Geln Hoddlr was taken by the Micky Hazard to one side and told that if he wants to do well he needs to understand the players can't do what he can and he needs to manage that beter

Perhaps one of our midfielders could be the new Micky Hazard soapy tit wank

I get that but it’s not even that is it.
Just play your centre backs at centre back and your left backs at left back.

Khan has quite a good turning circle.

Can he drive a taxi?

It's fair (possibly) for Morris to be given the summer then see how the team gets on in first 12-15 games next season.

Wouldn't lose any sleep if he walked or was pushed though.
Difficult to see any wins from the final 6 games.

Does the current run warrant the dreaded vote of confidence?

I've been reluctant to criticize Morris thus far for a number of reasons. What Sandro did in Jan with selling McDonald, Reed and Gladwin, his first few games where things went against him with sendings off and injuries etc.

However reevaluating now its a travesty how bad he has made us. Of the 3 senior players sold, Reed barely played, so it was really just 2 of them. Is FBT at CB and Tomlinson at LB really worse than McDonald at CB and FBT at LB? Maybe marginally. Gladwin was the biggest blow.

Too many players have gone backwards, probably some of the ones that wanted to leave in Jan (Williams/Hutton?). Clayton? To me he looked like a great prospect alongside McDonald, now he didn't even make the squad on Friday and we had a full back playing at CB! Khan has looked ineffective, Wakeling looks nowhere near the early season player (that amusingly got a 3 year contract based on what 10 games?!)

The team needs to show something in these last 6 games, otherwise i'm not sure how the club can trust him with the rebuild. This is nothing like the back half of the season Wellens took over.

The problem is - if we give him 15 games with his own players and the performances are still as awful as they are now - then he gets sacked. Then we get a new manager in and he’ll need to be given time to get his own players in of which he’ll probably only be able to get a few in, in January so will need to be given the summer and 15 games into the next season with his own team and all of a sudden that’s another year gone

What also worries me is the dropping of players and where they are playing. Friday and Monday Wakeling Shade and Darcy (sub yesterdaay) played 3 different positions. Added to that ,the defence has conced until yesterday 11 goals in 4 games and he changes absolutely nothing apart from Hutton, who despite being poor has still been better than the others back there recently

I'm generally fairly positive and whilst I do think that there have been signs of 'improvement' (ignoring the results, which of course is the whole point of the 90 minutes so humour me) on the pitch. I actually still think that Morris potentially could get a tune out of players the way he goes about it. I just don't think it's this set of players and the rot has set in. We still pop the ball about nicely at times, but as was the issue under SL, we woefully under test opposition keepers. Too many mistakes at the back as well. Playing a possession based game your defenders have to be properly switched on, Tranmere were awful first half yesterday, we had the ball most of the time but went in behind at half time.

So many things wrong at the moment, I think someone else said that it's like when you are playing football manager and you just can't get a win you start doing random things you'd never dream of doing. Surely Morris has to go back to basics a bit, play an easy formation the players understand, play the best players in those positions, (I get we have a few players that don't really have a 'best' position) get the ball into the box to Charlie Austin, and go from there. Also, why not play Minturn (he's done nothing wrong and needs first team football for development) and Adeloye (he's scored goals in the development matches) more often, or at least have them on the bench. Jeff Cott has shown the square root of nothing in this loan spell, why not see if we can get our own contracted striker off and running?

Yeah, it could become an unwanted cycle of manager churn, although arguably we have that at the moment, albeit managers have been leaving of their own accord.

In theory this is where the "model" or "project" comes in.
In that the next coach should be able to pick up where the last one left off.
Clearly that isn't working for whatever reason.
In theory (again) this group of players should be ready made for Morris to improve & get some results with as a group.

Maybe I'm saying that Morris should be given some time more out of a need to see some stability & continuity on the management / coaching front as opposed to a strongly held belief that he will come good.

Morris to be sacked according to reports.

Give it Gunning until the end of the season.

Where have you seen that buddy

Is your source reliable Joe

oh dear...

In a way this would be a real shame and a total major disappointment.

What reports?

To get rid of Morris before you get rid of Sandro would be simply farcical.

If there is some sort of break-clause where we can terminate with minimal cost then its very good news. If we're having to pay off his 2 1/2 year contract then that's very disappointing and expensive.

Only thing i have seen is Pete O’Rourker tweeting he is under growing pressure

But to sack Morris and leave Sandro in post would be a joke

If correct, this will raise even more questions ?

Just hope its wrong.

Why?

Morris was at least a possible success story moving forward.

Someone that would have contacts for new replacement players for the present shower.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/significant-update-emerges-on-jody-morris-future-at-swindon-town/ Not sure if lazy journalism after O’Rourke comments.

2 wins in 13 and 23rd in the form table does not give off any hint of ‘potential future success’

Blindly blame the squad all you want but we don’t have the second to worst squad in the division.

Cheers Joe

Spot on

So just a rehash of the O'Rourke tweet then really

This squad was not capable of promotion

Once MacDonald and Gladwin left it was even more obvious we were not going to even get into the play off's

Morris was given a hospital pass. By who ... who knows

  

The Ed Brand farce after losing his transfer target(s) wasn't exactly setting him up for success either.

I haven’t mentioned promotion or play offs. That has fuck all to do with Morris.
At no point have I said ‘Morris is doing a bad job we should be on the play offs’

Dress it up however you like 2 wins from 13 is bottom of the league form. Our squad might not be promotion challengers or play off contenders but we certainly aren’t bottom of the league relegation fodder on paper, just on form.

Lets adjust the question. If Morris had MacDonald and Gladwin available (when they are not injured) do we see any of the recent games being that different?

Not sure we do. They are definitely a loss, but not enough to warrant current form. Larger concern with current form is the demeanor and effort of the players, as Morris himself has stated. Nothing about the squad/team at present gives the sense that things are getting better ahead of next season.

Disagree, in hindsight we all owe MacDonald an apology. He was clearly the only thing holding our defence together and that’s born out in the stats. The Mansfield game apart our form in games he didn’t play was pretty shocking.

Yeah thats fair statistically, but stats would also suggest Austin has had a negative effect on points per game?

But that negative impact is primarily due to Austin’s time with the club coinciding our defence imploding. We conceded 4 to Rochdale, 3 to Gillingham, 4 on Friday since his departure. I don’t think we’d have crumbled as much as we have done if he was still in the back 4, he was clearly the only person injecting any kind of organisation.

The first spell in which he was injured (Newport H to Wimbledon H) was a bit of a two part thing - up until Mansfield A, we win four, draw one and lose one (ignoring the JPT game), conceding 6 goals (1 per game on average). Then everything goes wrong against Stockport in the FA Cup and we have two draws and three losses over that five game spell.

The key difference for in that split is that Clayton only plays one of those second five (Crawley away 0-1), having played all of the previous six.

Defence for me is about partnerships - MacDonald and Clayton worked. Brennan and Harries did not!

I did the maths on the partnerships here btw - http://thetownend.com/index.php?topic=59555.msg1728055#msg1728055 - the short version being that Clayton + either Baudry or MacDonald worked well. Left foot, right foot, experienced, inexperienced. Who'da thunk it?

Yep MacDonald and Clayton, with FBT at LB and Hutton at RB, looked like a decent foundation.

I still have no idea what the behind the scenes reasons were for MacDonalds departure.

With his record Morris would probably have played FBT and Hutton in the middle, Clayton as a holding midfielder and MacDonald up front.

Would we agree that Morris was given a hospital pass ?

The captain and vice captain being transferred out and not replaced Fact.

Young and inexperienced squad Fact.

None of the players were signed by Morris except the new previously out of contract G Mac and Blewitt. Fact

Suggested, no control of the fitness / conditioning of players. Maybe fact.

Inexperienced and possible problem D of F Maybe fact.

Players sent off and suspended Fact

Long term season ending injuries Fact.

Right, Morris must be a failure and lets get rid. Ya right

Come on, give the guy a chance to build a future successful team.  

  

It is possible to both to be put in a bad position, and to do a bad job even within that context (see my employment history for further details). Almost all of us would agree that both things are true, it's just about the degree of blame you allocate to each side I guess.

In what was was it a hospital pass, he knew the squad before he took the job, would undoubtedly have been asked during the interview process whether he could work with the squad and no doubt confirmed that he could. Reed and Gladwin had gone before he was appointed. MacDonald announced at Aberdeen on the same day he was appointed (I recall it was common knowledge he was off a bit before then), as far as I am aware it wasn't compulsory that he took the job when it was offered.

He hasn't been handed a perfect hand, but is any manager handed thus, but these attempts to deflect any blame whatsoever from him are a little odd.

He wasn’t given a hospital pass.

He wasn’t dealt a great hand at all - but he’s played said hand appallingly.

Maybe you are right....

Perhaps its just in hope that we can get a successful football club soon. :(


 

I think he inherited a much worse squad than the one that went into January.

I think he has done nothing to extract the right level of results out of the group he did inherit - he has continued trying to play U23 football.

I don't think Lindsey would be doing that much better with the current group either.

Two bad Managers and an ever worsening squad.

Morris may work if he was able to recruit a squad in his image - will we ever have the resources and squad spaces to achieve that for him?

At least under Lindsey they at least looked like they wanted to play for the club and manager, they may not be very good, but that's a big difference to just looking like they can't be arsed.

We are bottom of the form table in a very shit league. I think we have a number of players who are better than this league on their day. Something is wrong and ultimately that falls at the managers feet.

Seeing this open training day pic of a smiling Morris in one of his early training sessions made me feel quite sad to be honest.

https://twitter.com/Official_STFC/status/1644059587123765249

I was really excited when we got him and am simply baffled at how it has turned out thus far.

Listening to a few podcasts he had done before he joined us he spoke about how desperate he was to succeed as a manager.

I simply can't get on board with the view that he has pulled the pin and gone full kamikaze Sheridactyl but something has clearly gone very wrong. If that was the case he'd literally be sabotaging his career. Sheridan was a grouchy washed up mess by the time we got him with every one of his best years firmly behind him.

I think I'd have to go back to Danny Wilson and Iffy before that for the last times I felt genuine sadness at how it was playing out for a manager.

I'm still hoping that he can turn it around but it really has been a disastrous cherry on top of the steaming turd sundae that is the 2022/23 STFC season.

There must be a common denominator beneath the pre Lindsay appointment debacle, the departure of Lindsay and the downturn in Morris' disposition, and that must be the backroom setup. There's something Power'esque going on at the moment and for all the good that has happened e.g. ground ownership, Austin's return, it is undermined by something else very very sinister.

Exactly where I'm at with it. He's been dealt the shittest of shit hands, but he's still done poorly even so.

Its difficult to shake that feeling when everything is fucking catastrophic at the club at the moment.

Isn't it just. It feels like that period of horrible high pressure and dark black clouds just before a massive storm. I'd almost rather Clem called a press conference tomorrow and he and Zav pull off rubber masks and reveal themselves as Lee Power and Mike Diamandis. It is the silence in the face of constant on and off field shitness that is making it all worse.

Yep,totally agree

One thing it does show though is that it will ultimutely come down to what happens on the pitch. The ownership etc is exactly the same as it was 12 months ago

Just as we would put up with dull football if we were winning 1-0 every week.

.
Yeah things go quieter with on pitch success.

I'd say a contributor was expectations were increased for this season and rock bottom last - and 'the model' wasn't around last season either.

on ownership, there were questions on Karachi, having a convicted money launderer being put in as #2 and the less than transparent way 'most wanted' and keily were rumoured to have influence.

Oh yeah definetly were being asked but nowhere near as loudly(rightly) as they are now

The joys of owning a football club!  Unlike most other businesses, the P&L is not the primary concern of everyone else watching you perform in running said business.  Not having a successful team leads to people asking questions - if you've fucked everything else up, those questions can sometimes be a little taxing.

I wonder if Clem will be coming back to the UK to sort this shitshow out?

Nah not for a while. Poor cunt spent 4 months here and only just gone back.

Do you know how long he was originally intending to be here for his latest trip?

Also isn't he restricted to how many days he can spend in the UK

Was due to go back early Feb.

Why even? Artell was the best and obvious choice when the board decided to be clever and go for Morris.
I don't know whether it is fair to judge Morris after such a brief period in charge, but David Artell would have been settled into the job and planning for promotion next season if the decision had been mine.

Artell was my preferred choice mainly because of his experience of league 2 and doing well for Crewe

Just looking back at the stats and it really is grim reading. In the last 21 games we've won 5, drawn 6 and lost 10! 21 points from a possible 63. 1 point per game. Likely relegation over a full season.

I definitely think Morris has played a bad hand badly, particularly in the last 3 games and seemingly off the pitch but the rot had set in. Lindsey won 2 of his last 8, and I've never seen a worse winning performance than the Northampton game.

It all broadly coincides with the end of the MacDonald/Clayton defensive partnership. Clearly there are many more factors at play, such as having a midfield with the structural integrity of a Wotsit, but I think it is fair to say that CB is a disaster zone. I really hope that once this season is over FBT goes back to left back. Whilst he has been a willing stand in at CB it has been to both his and the team's detriment. The Mariappa transfer collapse is a wistful 'what might have been' moment.

Welcome back Rokerite !
Just an aside, but Sunderland fans are the best !Will never forget how gracious your fans were in defeat at Wembley in 1990.

I remember you were firmly in the Artell camp and I was firmly in the Morris camp during the protracted appointment saga.
Artell had the rug pulled from under him at Crewe when all his top players were sold on which I guess was all part of their plan.
It didn't work for Artell or Crewe and its taken them a whole season to get back to winning games again. However, if Artell had landed here and been given the same depleted squad Morris was given I just can't see him doing anything different. He couldn't rebuild at Crewe in the time he was given and in my view would not have "settled into the job" at Swindon.

If you had been watching our lot over the last couple of months I think you might understand no manager, not even Artell would have been able to stop the rot. We currently have serious issues within the club that need to be sorted out before we can even begin to start winning football matches again.
 

I'm sorry to read that there are still problems behind the scenes. I hoped the troubles had departed with that so and so Lee Power.
Swindon Town is probably potentially second only to Bradford City in the fourth tier. Get things right and you can start the climb back towards The Championship; which I note you haven't been in since 2000.
Good Luck to you with or without Jody Morris. And thank you for the kind words about our supporters. I didn't go to the  1990 match but I well remember my pal's comments when he returned home; "It was 1-0 but it should have ten, Swindon played us off the park"

https://therealefl.co.uk/2023/04/14/swindon-town-manager-makes-worrying-admission/

These guys have an agenda. Odd.

I think it's pretty clear who *isn't* their source, isn't it!

They’ve clearly got a ‘source’ whose nose has been put out of joint by Morris.

They cant even get tomorrows opponents correct, its Barrow not Bradford.

Did anyone else read those Morris comments as him 'accepting' the current poor form? I didn't. Total shit-stirring.

It read like a young Oxford based amatuer Fanzine writer of early internet fare had written it.

With the sudden influx of rumours and this, it definitely seems like there is a campaign internally against Morris. 

It actually makes me more pro-Morris if anything as it gives the impression that someone is trying to shaft him.

It would depend who is leaking it though for me, i know for a fact those EFL guys post any rumour they hear so for all we know it could be the fucking Chef who doesn't like him and telling them shit

I do think he has probably put a few noses out of joint though

Negative sentiment is always used by these sorts of social media people as it means more clicks. People are far more likely to click on an article entitled "Swindon Town Manager makes Worrying Admission" than "Swindon Town manager thinks poor form will make them stronger in the long run".

Good, and hope he continues - there are a few at the club that probably need to be shaken and slapped to wake up from the coma's that they seem to be in at the moment - the level of apathy at high level is incredible.

Accepting poor performances and accepting that performances have been poor are two totally different things. Morris is clearly not doing the former. I'm no fan of his but I also have no time for such blatant shit stirring... but then they got my click so little do they care...

Plan may have worked if it wasn't so fucking obviously on the nose and see through.

I know I've called you a twat in the past but I totally agree with the above  :)

Did anyone actually read the story? Their naughty negative briefing 'source' appears to be just rehashing a piece from the Advertiser based on an interview that Morris himself gave, that they even link to in the story, and reading what Austin's missus is saying on Twitter, so hardy nefarious nor suggesting of a hidden agenda?

From Whelan

‘ There are no plans at this present moment for Swindon Town to sack Jody Morris.

I've had a lot of messages and been contacted by journalists but  I'm told a firm no. ’

We are skint.
We can’t afford to sack him. Non League here we come.

All in favour of giving a Manager time and a chance to bring in his own players etc.
Morris on one hand has been handed a poor imbalanced squad, not had a chance from a transfer window. On the other should be getting a better tune out of this current crop.

Notwithstanding the players need to take some accountability or are they simply poor.

Too many variables.
One definite, the end of season can’t come soon enough. All about the close season now and some delight if some of these players are moved on.

I agree with you Duke, but as was said by many in January "it's all about the replacements".

personally, I'm seriously worried we can't afford any. At least any of the right type. To the point of worrying about administration, then I remembered we seem to have done a good job converting external debt to internal debt, so maybe that would be pointless.

certainly if things don't change I feel this season will be a breeze compared to next

This is only a personal feeling. I've been wrong more times more than right.

With you here Batch.
All about intent now and over to the Club. The fans can’t do anymore, backed the project, continued to back the project, didn’t request refunds when the club were desperate etc.

I remain very concerned right now.

Thing is there's not much we can do but wait

I have renewed, even under these circumstances.

Just got to hope silence from the club means they are executing a plan to change things, rather than in panic mode of what to do.

I did see the Rob Angus programme quotes on here acknowledging the mess. Hopefully that's the start

Out of interest what were Rob Angus program notes...?

Quotes notes... same thing

I've not seen them first hand, only mention of them here acknowledging this season should be better

whether he directly criticised recruitment I don't know

Morris' #One2Eleven is quite a good watch.

Must be quite hard watching some of our mob if you've played with this lot...

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/9735339/jody-morriss-one2eleven

The manager of tomorrow's visitors makes an appearance.

Judging by Angus comments Morris will be given the opportunity to shape his own squad.  There seems to be a big emphasis on recruitment so lets hope that Jody is able to get the experienced players in he feels are needed for a promotion push, and he does not get interference from Sandro assuming he is not being booted out the door.

I will believe it when i see it. Cant help but think those programme notes were written in a way to get people to buy season tickets.

I believe him when he says we'll have a top 7 budget but that that's not saying much in L2 money and spending it wisely isn't easy either so there's a chance we'll still be shit.

We could have the top budget in league 2 but it wouldn't mean much if Sandro is still choosing the players.

He may well be but it will be under Morris’ tutelage won’t it. If as was said that Lyndsey had the final say then by that yardstick so will Morris.

Which is kind of understandable as with the way its looking there is gonna be a fucking big hole in the budget next year which will need filling one way another, be it cutting playing budget (which will go down like the proverbial fart in a lift), Clems pockets or third party investment.

All we can do is hope that it will be under Morris's tutelage but then again he may not have an eye for league 2 players either.

A big part of the Morris plan has to be using his contacts to get 2 or 3 good loans in, which could help with the budget issue.

But if the rumours are right and Kadji is “his signing”, we aren’t off to a great start!

Hopefully better than L2 😉

I didn't realise that Morris played for City, perhaps he still has links there who needed a favour?

It's quite interesting looking back at the BCFC - STFC links over the years

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/HeadToHead.asp?Team=Bristol%20City

Jury still out on Morris & his ability to coach league 2 players.

One step forward 4 steps back.

Score 5 away from home a matter of days before then serve that up last night albeit against a capable side.

I thought it was a decent effort given the tools he has at his disposal.

Yes, they had a few chances but we look more organised and are trying to play a certain way now.

With a lump of a centre back, a nasty midfielder and a target man we batter them.

We are so short on nous, experience, leadership and strength but given that I don’t think we can say that was 4 steps back.

If Morris was saying “I’m happy with this squad” I’d be terrified. Thankfully he very clearly isn’t!

Everyone else will strengthen in some capacity too. Will be get the players he wants / needs?

We have seen a slight improvement yes but for someone we ‘broke the bank’ for I haven’t seen enough personally.

I think most of us are in a similar place, if you try you can make a case for him but it's hardly compelling just yet. The summer is huge, but Morris isn't the only person in the hierarchy that plays a role there and there are question marks over how the club as a whole will handle that. Just have to wait and see where we are in four or five months time once next season has started.

I must be one of the few who thought we played pretty well against a side who’s effectively now gone up.

For about 25 mins in the second half yea when they’d done their job and effectively out done us experience wise.

And that's the issue right? Morris can't magic experienced players out of thin air can he? He came in 1 day before the end of the transfer window, was forced to bring in free agents to plug gaps and basically make do with the totally unbalanced squad that was put together in summer and in January. I'm in agreement that perhaps Morris could be doing more to get the most out of what he has, but I'm  also in the camp that thinks we need to see how we build in pre-season. He's already said in interviews that we need experience and he will be working with the recruitment side to get that balance.

How we build the squad and start next season is absolutely vital for JM.

I’d say we played as well as can be expected given we do not have a squad built for the physicality of L2. Not Morris’ fault, not the players’ fault.

Me too. First 15 we were battered but after that I thought we gave a good account of ourselves,considering we were missing our best 2 players. No cause for deep alarm I feel,especially when you consider the runaway champions in this division have failed to beat us. Morris is right,they were hanging on the last 20 minutes. True they missed decent chances,but we troubled them for sure and I think we deserved a point

Agreed. I don’t actually think our squad is too far off - their number 6 won absolutely everything in the air - we could do with someone like that to partner Clayton. A better more athletic striker (someone like Simpson) and I think we’d be a playoff chasing team. I saw someone say we have the limbs but don’t have the spine and that’s spot on…

A combative midfielder, someone with experience  :hmmm:
He joined Crawley.

Gladwin? Combative?? I've clearly not been paying attention...

You’re welcome!  :D

If we brought Morris in to “coach” and improve players then anyone expecting to see an immediate upturn in the middle of a fixture pile up is being overly optimistic. They barely have time to prepare for each match.

What I would say is that fitness has improved dramatically to my eye. Both in the Bradford game and last night we look a lot more energetic.

Morris will earn his crust or his P45 in preseason and early next year when he has the chance to really work with the Claytons, Laviniers and Wakelings of this world.

It’s been a massively disappointing 2023 so far but we were holed below the waterline in January and whilst I’m not giving him a free pass I’m realistic enough to realise that we need to stick with him.

Grant

This.

Plus let’s be honest Stevenage are miles ahead of Wimbledon.
It would be like a Crystal Palace getting a thumping win over Everton then losing the next game to Man City and calling it 4 steps back.

Who can't get into their starting lineup

He's made 8 appearances in the last month. He's there to close out games. At 35 and having spent much of the year on the shelf he isn't going to be banging out 90 mins FFS!

A side doing better than us with only 2 losses in their last 11. I'm sure he'd have got a start here, 6 losses in the last 11.

Oh really?? Totally missed that one😖

My issue with Morris is that he is another person in the building learning his trade - we simply have too much of that.  Now, if we sort out the player recruitment over the next three months and pull together a squad that isn't all about the need to be coached on how to play the game, then maybe he works out.  Right now, he's learning with a squad that is learning and a back-up team supporting him that is learning (or not got enough knowledge and not even learning!).

Last night in isolation is not a problem, even in our better seasons down here there are one or two teams that you just don't match-up well with.  The problem, which is clear to most, is that there are just too many teams that have our number or can easily match us at least.  I couldn't give a fuck if we are playing a team in the top three, we should be in a position where that is us as well.  It's a sad day when we have more than a couple of teams in Div 4 that we are saying - "well, we competed well considering where they are".

Morris needs to insist on the right support structure at the club being in place - I don't expect him to be selecting the DoF/Technical Director/whatever that role is called, or the people that report to that role, but he should be telling the CEO that shit is broken.

If he does and we do fix it, then maybe we look very different at the start of next season.

yeah that's fair

It is all about knowing that Morris knows his budget, can make the changes he wants to make to players and staff and can get about arranging contracts talks with those he wants to keep, and tell those he don't they are free to leave, once that is underway then the ball will be rolling.

It will also be good to know the role of Sandro and what the scouting team is, and then the type of player Morris wants to bring in, does he have to go young, or is he allowed to look at more experienced players, or is he being told it has to be a mix as the club still wants to continue to get players in that may be saleable in future.

If you rank every footballing adjective, combative might be the very last one I would use to describe Gladwin.

Balls, forgot about him.

At least he's off commentary.

He's talking about Anthony Grant.

The first time he was on comms, I quite enjoyed it, but then by the third it was grating.

Sam Parkin by contrast I thought was excellent to listen to last night. He's become a tremendous summariser since retiring from football.

Part of me wonders if Grant did himself out of a contract back here with his co-commentary.

I found his digging out of players, Wakeling in particular, extremely personal, unprofessional and quite unpleasant.

A shame as he was a favourite of mine. Don't shed daylight on magic, as they say.

I felt exactly the same. Constantly bigging himself up to the detriment of the current set up. Arrogant

Grant was great.
Grant isn't great now.

That's all that should matter there.

I think Grant's last 2 clubs speak volumes at the level he's currently operating at.

Morris said this today in his pre-match presser about Saturday's visit to Crewe.

"It's one I'm looking forward to. It'll be a different type of test to Stevenage. It's not the best prep when you're travelling all that way on the day of the game. But we want to build on some of the good stuff we've been doing lately and try to pick up three points again."

Are we revisiting the Megabus subscription out again?

We have been doing hotels for the properly northern games I think…

Its not ideal travelling on the day of the game though is it

140 odd miles on a coach the morning of the game

Getting the 'it's not my fault' in early now I see.  ::)

Not remotely in any sort of Morris out mood, but if he don't like it (and he knew what he was signing up for), then not sure what the answer is albeit constantly bitching to the media ain't gonna help anyone.

Yeah and this was why I posted it really. Is there anything to really gain here from him making a semi snide comment at the board?

Could it just be a case of club knowing season is dead, the trip being a tad over the usual 2 hour rule clubs apply and saving a few G's where they can? It's not ideal for the game prep for sure

I'd file myself under 'Morris in' but I would like it if he showed a bit more pride in being the manager of our club in his interviews. At least he is wearing some STFC gear unlike Garner, but the whinging and general impression that it is a bit of a chore to be here is starting to slightly grate...
There are 92 managers jobs in English League football and he should be proud to have one of those, and at a club like ours, regardless of the conditions he is operating under.

Yes,I always get the impression in his interviews that he's merely observing and not actually managing. I recall someone saying on here that he comments on events as if he's had no input and that's pretty accurate

Perhaps a hangover of being an academy coach/assistant manager if I am being generous. It is a learning curve for him too. Either way someone should have a word as it is hardly helping to engender unity between fans/team/manager. Sadly we seemingly don't employ that 'someone' who has a clue about this sort of thing so it probably won't happen.

Morris is a grown adult and knows exactly what he is doing and how it comes across, its clear he has been media trained to within an inch of his life (as one would expect coming up through Chelsea), just compare his media engagements with SL who was shite and it really didn't help his cause.

I always get the impression that his first objective is always to protect brand Morris and shift blame if things haven't gone well.

As I say, I'm being generous...

He's media savvy for sure. Some of Lindsey's interviews were simply embarrassing to watch.

I do vaguely remember Wellens shifting to 'reputation management' mode before he buggered off to Salford and it annoyed me at the time, especially as he had spent 18 months blowing smoke up Lee Power's arse.

Another Morris whinge has dropped, what a surprise, it's been all of a week since the last one, I was starting to think he was less of a cunt.

I think they are very similar albeit Wellens had the benefit of doing well (until the end) plus he's pretty charismatic which is something that can't be suggested of Morris.

It's fair to say we haven't seen this bloke yet:

"I’ve known Jody a long time and he has always been a funny, engaging and warm personality. You get to know someone when you’re with them in Malaysia at an Under 20s World Cup for six weeks and Jody had a presence about him; confident in his own ability and a natural leader."

"He has an infectious personality which will get everyone up."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8008109/Bubbly-Jody-Morris-secret-ingredient-Frank-Lampards-success-assistant-Chelsea.html

Could Morris moans about things like lack of hotels, or lack of clarity around transfer business, not just be pushing those above to hold themselves to a higher standard?

or also maybe he was asked about it directly

Especially if one of the players had complained about it to someone and the media got wind of it.

I’m always very wary of criticising someone based on media coverage until you have seen what was said and in what context.

I remember the Gareth Bale “he wouldn’t want any of the England squad” comment which got plenty of press coverage, when you see the actual interview he had a big smile on his face & winked at the reporter so was clearly having a bit of a laugh which is not how it came across in the mainstream press

I don’t know exactly, but given the professional organisations he’ll have been accustomed to across his career I can easily imagine Morris getting frustrated with the amateur omnishambles of an organisation we appear to be.

Element of caveat emptor to that, though

Exactly this

His own inexperience may well be on display as well - I wonder if he asked sufficiently probing questions about the club before taking the job?  I interview a lot of people who ask very limited questions - depending on the candidate I may help prompt them if I think they have potential, but it's tough to get into the interviewee's head and ensure both sides are ready to make the leap fully informed.

I honestly think he didn't know to expect a lot of what he has found.

In time he will adjust - somethings he will be able to influence and improve, others he will identify as being the "norm" for this level.  Under Power, didn't we once use and actual Bus?  I suppose at least it wasn't a case of leaving the players to work out the timetable, maps and dab for payment.

I think we had a double decker for Ipswich away where Twine scored the wonder goal.

Seem to remember someone saying the pre-departure meal was cereal and toast!

Coming from a decade of money no object at Cobham to STFC is probably a major factor in him wearing the expression of a recently captured hostage most of the time.

Its okay because Clem (who seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth) wants Premier League thinking from all at the club.  ???


Sadly needed a piss at HT on Tuesday, the urinals in the DRS dont look like theyve been cleaned all season... the club are running such a frugal ship were reluctant to splash out on a bottle of bleach it would appear... buy your STs though.

We were flying home from games in 1963...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p5ZMaWx8Q8&t=1997s

He's hardly 'bitching' though is he Horlock? He's just stating it as it is. For professional level footy, it's not the best preparation to be travelling up on a coach on the morning of the match.

Even at the shitty level I played at we had the occasional overnight Premier Inn/BnB when we played a team a hundred plus miles away. Training the Friday morning for those who could make it, then travel up and a lighter session in the afternoon/early evening. Rest up, couple of jars and then ready for what from memory would be an 11am ish KO

Bigger question is, are the club really that skint to not afford an overnight stay; fair enough trimming it from two nights [Fri and Sat] to one but to not afford it all all is 'not the best preparation'.

Surprised at how some have responded in a way that this makes Morris a cunt for stating the bleeding obvious. It's not like he's expected the club to put everyone up in the Ritz for the weekend, flown to the nearest airport to the ground, whilst getting transferred via individual gold plated Bentleys but you'd be forgiven for thinking that is the type of thing that was stated.

It's a fucking friendly.  I'd rather them save the cash for next year.

Perhaps if he'd won a few more games then the club may have found the cash for hotels.  Wouldnt surprise me if he starts blaming a lack of funds for not paying any bonuses next.  

He needs to decide whether he wants to manage a div 4 football team or be an u23 coach with unlimited resources.   In short stop fucking moaning and get on with it.

From the outside looking in it appears Clem is doing everything on the cheap.

Not that we should waste money- but to travel as far as Crewe on the day of the game is ridiculous

Does Clem have any silent investors or is he a one man band🤔

Talk about blowing it out of proportion you daft cunt. Have you even watched the presser? He says it quite casually in context of talking about preparation for the next game. There is a bit of a mountain out of a molehill being made here from some posters.

In simple terms, this isn't what a professional level football club should be needing to do to save money...why? Because a ''saving'' like this in football terms is like us finding a fucking tenner in our jeans  before washing them - nice but it's not going to change the dynamic of our social and disposable lifestyle in the long term. Save the money for next season....haha ffs that kind of cost cutting wouldn't even cover Scott Lindsay's annual BrylCreem bill  :soapy tit wank:

Ergo, if the club needs to do this then they're really are skint as fook - and it should be slightly worrying that they can't do things properly on the whole.

Anyway, where the fuck is Mr.Orange? I'm blaming him for stirring this pot, the naughty little so and so  :D

Seemingly one man with a perished elastic band  :girlgiggle:

🤣

I think there’s little doubt that the behind the scenes stuff is being run on an absolute shoestring budget.

Clem is the last man Standing

You must be taking the Michael  :girlgiggle:

If the club is as skint as it appears then how is morris going to get these players he clearly needs?

He’s a very moany person that can be seen already. Don’t think I’ve seen him smile once in an interview win lose or draw.

That feeds into others. Cheer up ffs.

I’m not sure travel arrangements for Crewe away in a dead rubber should really be a pressing concern for Mr. 4 wins in 17.

I appreciate it’s literally two lines of a pre match presser and has likely been blown out of proportion but it’s about time he shut the fuck up and put all his efforts into winning football matches rather than moaning.

Absolutely, it's almost like he's gone into hiding. I'm surprised it hasn't drawn a lot more comments than what it has to be honest...

He was over for 3 or 4 months. As far as I saw said nearly fuck all to the fans.

if he doesn't like that side, he did a good job hiding it while trying to get hold of the club. No pint pulling or van driving this year. No phone calls pleading with season ticket holders.

I actually had a chat with him in the Arkells after the Stockport game and he was very friendly and engaging and asked what I thought of the Morris appointment, which he seemed excited about. Definitely didn’t seem like he was trying to stay low and move fast.

I thought as soon as we were mathematically out of it this season there would be a statement of disappointment from the club saying how next year would be different etc to gee up the season ticket sales. The silence is a bit odd. If Clem doesn’t want to, which seems odd given his past endeavours, then Angus should be on a charm offensive.

Perhaps our promotion budget for next season is going to come from savings like these.

Also not playing Charlie Austin so we haven't got to pay any of his goal bonus is an equally useful saving.

I think in isolation, saving a couple grand on hotel stay for a dead rubber isn’t the worse thing in the world

It’s not an act that is in isolation though, it’s the latest in a line of penny pinching and lack of seriousness at being a professional operation

As Morris said, this was decided before he arrived. Perhaps he has insisted on it changing going forward as part of his deal with the club?

In the absence of funds to sort out a proper training ground, relatively low cost 'marginal gains' like these must be worth making if we are serious about doing anything next year.

Aah, that's why he missed that sitter Tuesday. Selfless

To be fair though, the decision that could have been made before Morris got here could have been “we will not stay overnight for games if we are out of the play off race” rather than “there is no way in hell we are staying overnight in Crewe regardless”

Context is really important here as you say. We're analysing a statement made in a press conference that presumably was taken verbatim.

Absolutely this. Corners seem to be being cut everywhere which is worrying.  :no:

I couldnt care less if they had to cycle to this game its a post season friendly, i just hope that if there was something riding on it that they would be going about it properly.

The team stayed overnight in Liverpool against Tranmere.

We came across the team bus in the docklands the day before

To be fair what is the point spending more when we have nothing to play for. I'd rather save the money here and invest it next year. It's penny pinching but to me seems like good business on this occasion.

You are 100% right in what you say in that it's a pointless game and therefore who cares.

Where does the line stop though?

Lets go on the piss this week, we aren't going up or down for example.

Its just about setting the standards, and if Morris is to be believed this decision was made before he came - while we were still in the playoff mix.  Not to say it wouldn't have been overturned if something had been riding on it though, as Dave said.

But at the end of the day the club seems to have many many problems right now, and this is well down the list of problems.

Angry fans dumped it there?

So what if they travel in on the day? Not like they're having to jog there, can even have a kip on the way.

Lou Macari would've made them jog possibly

I think this is probably realistically the case. Let's not stay overnight for this game, save a few quid, however if there is something riding on the game let's make a different judgement call.

Its probably our fault for not buying season tickets.

Buy them then!

There needs to be a few changes in and around the club before I buy mine.
I was told weeks and weeks ago he had gone, but I won’t be buying one until the club confirm Sandro isn’t in charge of recruitment.

That said if we are talking 15 rooms in a travelodge its what, £750 for 15 rooms. Easier to book and cancel?

I'm labouring the point. Far more important things to discuss - though finances are a massive part.

As per Quag's posts for a start. 

Not a dig at you Quaggy, but didn't you also say we'd be announcing Austin has signed a new contract as well a few weeks back? Your sauce needs questioning I reckon :)

Also, Sandro has appeared in the padded seats area with Zav and AN Other at a recent home game suggesting he is very much still about.

Yep, that’s genuinely done as far as I’m aware. So again, not sure what the hold up is.

It’s all very STFC.

I mean, the fact they’ve buried the Zav no longer being vice chairman news in the advisory board notes, rather than making a statement seems strange to me.

I mean you would have thought that Charlie Austin signing a new contract would have been the perfect opportunity to market season tickets, perhaps they have more than 1 iron in the fire, but isn't the early bird ending tomorrow?

You bloody posted it, ya bleedin' troublemaker  ;)

If you've watched the presser where he mentions it, it really is a passing statement and there's no cause for people to be saying he's being a cunt or acting like he's entitled. He's just highlighted it as not being best for preparation. Which, in essence...he is correct to state

Hope you're well matey  :D

I think it is tomorrow isn't it for early bird

Is it me, out has there been very little push from the club on this? on social media anyway.

I admit I think I've opted out marketing so don't get the emails everyone else seems to.


edit

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/march/2324-season-ticket-pricing/

actually might be today "Early Bird (Available until Saturday 29 April):"

How you get your kicks is your business. Wasn't expecting it to be shared on the TEF  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Apart for the ''begging bowl'' bit in the programme not much has been said.

I find that really odd .

I've finally found the optimistic bone in my little finger. Maybe there are moves afoot to make changes that means promotion will have a chance.

that or we are a complete mess

Especially given when the last AB was on they admitted Season Ticket sales had been very poor.

I just had a quick scan of the ST details and noticed this as a benefit -

"Have your views represented at our regular Advisory Board meetings." I thought all fans were able to have views represented, or have I totally misunderstood what this means. (more than likely)

And that £750, hell even £1500 would definitely come in very handy for a promotion push next season and not marked in the miscellaneous costs folder...

I can't understand people saying that saving that kind of amount is beneficial, even £3k wouldn't be a relatively good saving for a professional football club. I would understand it if we were a Level 7 side or even a Conference South team. But STFC aren't and never should be. Seriously, what does it actually get you in League Two...one weeks wage of a top ish earner? Pays for a cleaner to keep the bogs fresh all season? Pays for an intern for a couple of months...oh wait...  ???

#ChumpChange

Surely some of the players would need to be put up in Swindon anyway for the early start Saturday morning? So it's probably not much of a cost saving.

but you've got to get in early for Travelodge best deals ;)

it's more indicative of not having a por to piss in rather than making any difference on our season

Aren't you only saving something like £15 for the early bird pricing this year though?  If so a lot of people are more likely to hold off I would think

I think that is due to an OSC membership being included?  You are right anyone can email OSC/Trust though.

oh yeah quite right there isn't an incentive for punters.

I thought the club would want it in asap for budget forecasting and cash flow reasons.

Have until the end of May to keep the same seat, that’s probably more of a deadline for some

Early bird's just been extended until the end of May. Sales must be pretty grim.

Therefore another "learning moment" for this novice exec team

I wish we were in the situation where not renewing might mean that you lose your seat due to rush of sales :D

Ours are on the halfway line in the Don Rogers just above the stairs, think they would be taken by someone else if we didn’t renew.

I can get an old git ST. What sort of proof do they require?

When was the last time early bird wasn’t extended?

Do you still have your own teeth?
😂

Pmsl 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Morris ain’t helping things either. Every time he speaks now he comes across as an arrogant spoilt brat who’s becoming less and less interested in this club.

All for the heart on sleeve and say it how it is lingo, and Yes things might be a shit show behind scenes, but a degree of professionalism wouldn’t go a miss…

To answer Audrey’s question - to get the over 65 discounted price you need some sort of photo I/D with your date of birth on - passport or driving licence for example.

Do the club ask if you'd like to donate the remainder and make it an Adult price?

Some

Clearly an out of Town Supporter 😂😂😂🥊

A summer ‘mutual consent’ departure is written all over it with Morris.

I won’t lose any sleep  :bye:

Do you know something we don’t? Or is this a feeling in your water moment?

Just a feeling mate. He is clearly unhappy and constant swipes at the board (justified or not) usually only end one way.

Yet another loss.

Oh dear. 22% win rate.

Shambles!

Guardiola learnt from Johan Cruyff
Mourinhio learnt from Bobby Robson
Morris learnt from Frank Lampard.  
 
 :D

Fucking hell  :soapy tit wank:

He’s been lauded for winning trophies at Chelsea’s academy. His team included Tomori, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Harry Wilson, Lewis Baker, Reece James to name but a few.

I’d win trophies with that lot too!

Like I said previously I don’t think he has the minerals for L2 players and their lack of talent. It’s a completely different kettle of fish to what he’s worked with before.

This won’t get much better. If any.

OK.... Disappointed with result today and yes have listened to Morris s post match interview.
I would agree with everything he said.
Not negative but truthfully honest
Many reasons have caused this situation but Morris is not necessarily one of them
The problems were here before he arrived.

…are you seriously suggesting a manager who has taken a team in 6th place backward with relegation form isn’t one of the problems?

DIV... Please read my post properly
Not necessarily the problem.
Suggest Morris  is /was inexperienced in thinking everyone at the club wanted success on the pitch.
Moving on Gladwin Reed
and Macdonald without any proven replacements.
Delays in getting Brand on board in a timely manner.
You could almost compare the most recent experiences with Power and Sheridans desire for relegation.
I really can't understand what is wrong with STFC.
Is it just bad luck or fate. ???

Fair enough - he’s not the clubs main or only problem overal.

Purely on the pitch though, he is…

Correct - I’m seriously worried that a man who can have so much experience is doing so much worse than Lindsey (despite a loss of a few players - I don’t think it should have impacted as much as it has)

Fair points but I'm pretty sure those 3 were gone before he arrived. He knew what he had but still took the job,so I'm presumably thinking he was happy with the squad he inherited. Bolstered it with a few of his own players and now seems to absolve himself of all responsibility

Another stat, only 3 of the 14 teams below us failed to win against us this season.

Another weird one( to me anyway). We have taken points at the grounds of all 9 teams above us bar Stevenage.

A big part of my “Morris in” thinking is that in a world of diminished budgets, playing a cute hand in the loan market is going to be key and he must have a better chance than your average L2 manager of attracting some good players. We saw that Garner did and as discussed that has been another dismal aspect of this season’s strategy.

Its just dawned on me that Morris and Gareth Barry were England U21 teammates. Coincidence I'm sure

 :sherlock: :hmmm:

For me, this is probably one of the main remaining selling points for Morris. He's got to have the connections up the pyramid for a few decent loanees to be sent our way. The loan with option to buy this year hasn't worked out, Brynn has been decent enough and Kadji isn't ready for professional football yet. For a club like us, our success is often judged by the quality of players we get on loan, this season's lot have missed the mark by some distance.

Even if we accepted the players are awful, which I believe they are, and Morris can’t be at fault for that.

There is still no defending some of the bizarre team selections, substitutions, playing players out of position, injury record since he’s been in the job and the constant moaning in press conferences.

That’s all on him, we can’t blame Sandro for that.

Morris is in no way blameless, but with different players bought into play how he wants to play, it may garner different results. I'd be very surprised if Morris isn't our manager next season, we're not going to pay out his contract and for Morris it's probably make or break for a career in management. No one in the FL would appoint him as manager with how he's done so far.

I know they’ve blown the title but I think Arteta shows what can happen if you stick with a manager. Looked an absolute lame duck and everyone was calling for his head.

I see “Hanners” saying he’s Sherwood Mk 2, which is a simply ridiculous statement. Sherwood was playing golf when we had a game! Perhaps Morris didn’t want to go on his Podcast

The big thing that the club is currently lacking is a lower league football astute mind. The business side of things has done well (buying a ground, reducing debt (which some of it has just moved rather than removed btw)). I can't see how Morris would be clueless given his previous jobs he's held. What he may lack is an idea of how lower league football works.

It doesn't need miracles to get out of League 2, look at a very poor but organised Stevenage side for example. The next DoF (presuming Sandro has gone) needs to be someone with the knowledge of what you need to get out of League 2. The absolute ideal would be someone like Martin Ling who is connected to the club, but we seem to have let that ship sail and he is doing brilliantly at Orient.

2 completely off the top of my head who would fit the bill - Darren Ward and Gordon Greer. I'm sure there would be many other options though too.

You are going to be disappointed if that’s what you are hoping for.

I agree.
Think we will stick with Morris - gotta hope he hits the ground running. If he doesn’t it’s another season wasted because we’ll bring in a new manager who will need to time & his owns players, probably a summer to get get and go again.

Hindsight and all that but this season we probably would have been better off sticking with Gav.

More of hope rather than think it’s going to happen. However, with 9k+ crowds for 2 seasons I’m really struggling to deal with the lack of ambition from the club. Fed up of seeing teams overtake us. Plymouth 3 years ago were on a par with us and now they’re in the championship with fantastic infrastructure. Being I’m being too impatient with the new ownership…

In hindsight this is probably true, the problem is that we actually felt that the playoffs were still possible in January if the new manager could turn things around.

The other thing with Gav was he played with no fear as he wasn't concerned that losing would cost him his job. Whether he would have continued that way if he got the job to the end of the season, who knows (would have been a bit more exciting though, that's for sure)

Hanners coming in DoF.
Going to appointed Caddis.

You heard it here first.

One issue clouding judgement of Morris is that there were a number of fans who were saying (on here and elsewhere) that we were underachieving before Christmas as we were “only 6th” under Lindsey - as this supported their narrative that he was the problem and should be sacked. In reality the signs were there then - Crewe and Walsall at home (Walsall’s last away win was on Boxing Day - guess where) - we struggled to create chances or test the opposition goalkeepers in a number of poor home performances. This squad has never been strong enough or deep enough, and has glaring gaps in it.
By the time Morris was confirmed the squad had been weakened by the departures of Gladwin, Reed and McDonald, and more importantly than those 3 leaving the replacements were not of the same calibre and left the side weaker.
He then came in to find a side weakened by injury and suspensions, and we signed a couple of free agents - of whom McEachran was obviously due to his past links with Morris - who have both done ok.
We can all see the issues with the squad - lack of physicality, lack of experience in key positions plus the lack of a proper target man.
The issue of not being able to hold a lead, as well as not having the experience and nous to feign injury and do all the time wasting and other skullduggery exhibited by Stevenage and others at the County Ground, is partly because we can’t seem to keep the ball in the opposition half when we clear it - previous Town teams have had players who can do this (Simpson or Davison from last year, Michael Smith, Jerry Yates and Kayne Woolley even Luke Norris are some examples from 2015 on) none of our attacking players can do this, and the gaps between the players we have playing up front mean that lay offs and knock ons result in us losing the ball.
It seems to me from his interviews that Morris knows what the issues are - and is trying to get his messages across to those above him in the Town hierarchy that we need to overhaul the squad while simultaneously trying to keep the players “onside” as any action has to wait until after Crawley next week.
I don’t think we can afford the financial hit from sacking him, nor do I think any replacement would necessarily be better - those who would opt for “mad Gav” based upon a couple of chaotic home games are crazy if they think that type of play will get us promoted.
As well as those he has played with/against or worked with subsequently, Morris’s contacts will also include those who were on his coaching course at the same time, and those who loaned players to Derby when he was there with Lampard, so hopefully better loanees next year too.
I say get behind Morris and Brand - as things will improve when they have sorted the squad.

Fair post and valid points you make and hope that Clem is honest enough to accept that he got it wrong by appointing Sandro and will give Morris the financial backing to rebuild the squad during the summer.

The problems you have highlighted re forwards unable to retain the ball to relieve pressure is heightened by the absence of midfield players either unable or unwilling to compete for clearances from our defenders . Invariably these are mopped up by the opposition and we are under the cosh again straight away.

What pisses me off more than anything is in numerous games I’ve watched us outplay teams for 20 minutes or so, looking superior in every way. The opposition look feeble and clueless. Yet, time after time, we flatter to deceive and collectively collapse in a heap.

NHA
Totally agree and an excellent post. Just hope the critical posters on here can see your comments as correct as well.
There are / were cheap inexperienced senior employees in the club prior to the start of the season who made critical decisions with playing staff that caused this fuckdd up season.
These  staff were employed by Morfuni... therefore Morfunni is clearly nèds to take responsibility and blame.
With Garner and Chorley he got lucky. This year he didn't
Now hopefully the club on the pitch things will start to get better again.
Time will only tell.

Some good post above but I'll put another spin on things for anyone in doubt that Morris should have done better after 18 games in charge. Take a look at the job two old pensioners Roy Hodgson & Neil Warnock have done since standing in for the rest of the season,  one is 74 the other 75 with no clipboard or fancy v neck jumper in sight, no new signings just hard work on the training ground and young footballers who weren't performing listening to what they have to say.

I hear you but who thinks this team is underperforming? I genuinely don’t think that a consistent match winning XI can be found in this current squad. Woefully short in all departments. All the bollockings in the world from Warnock aren’t going to make Kadji a good player, or teach Hutton how to defend or make Darcy grow a foot.

He would get them fitter and make them work harder tho let's not forget Huddersfield were bottom of the league before Warnock turned up.

Simply put
Lipstick on a pig
Still a pig
This squad could have made it with some good fortune
Macdonald performing like he is currently for Aberdeen. Frenchy not getting injured, Khan not being sent off at Newport.. all critical moments and I sure there have been scores of other moments.
That said, we survived still in the Football league and with a manager that seems to know a thing or two as opposed to Lindsey who could only tell you what you wanted to hear.

Oh do fuck off you sheep shagging pious expat.

Huddersfield’s captain, Hogg, has made more Premier League and Championship appearances than our Stevenage starting XI had EFL appearances in total. Their squad is littered with players with hundreds of career appearances (Pearson, Danny Ward, Jordan Rhodes etc etc). The comparison doesn’t work. The Palace team is no different.

There is a reason that literally no other club in the EFL has adopted our “model” of thinking a team with an average age of 22 made up of Academy dropouts with zero EFL appearances can succeed.

Morris has made mistakes for sure but Alex Ferguson isn’t getting our post January XI into the playoffs.

I wasn't suggesting play offs just harder to beat and not switching off late in the games and giving soft goals away

LL
Wonder why STFC will always be divided and generally under performing with supporters with a brain as addled as your latest comment.

Sounds like you've cracked open the homemade scrumpy LL  :)

Get him a doctor in a white coat before does so harm

Was Hepburn Murphy

I think this team is under performing.
It’s not great but it’s not 4 wins in 18 bad.

90% of the posts on here seem to be arguing whether the squad is historically, irredeemably shit or Morris couldn't manage his dinner. I suppose there's nothing much else to talk about at this point of the season, but the answer is clearly a bit of both rather than 100% one or the other.

We've clearly underperformed since Morris took over.  Almost every team in the league has gathered more points than us since he took over.

Yes we are shit, but relegation shit?  He's not been pragmatic enough and made some bizarre selections and subs.   

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Morris pop up quickly at St Johnstone. Think they have a vacancy and he’s very highly regarded there. Gives him a chance to get straight back on the bicycle so to speak.

Maybe we can lock this thread and continue any chat on one of the other Morris/Managerial threads? May be easier to have cogent discussions that way.

Fully aware i've contributed to the continuing 'mess' by posting on this thread! :bye:

And possibly similar can be directed at you for always banging on about your fucking 'DNA'. Just say 'my Son' you fucking deoxyribonucleic acid odious twat  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

No Gareth, no we can't. It would be very unTEFlike. Cue thread being locked  ;)

I take that as a compliment thank you.

Good, was just reflecting your reply to RobinNZ because the 'my DNA' thing does grate a tad. I appreciate that is a 'me' problem, although possibly grates on others too but I'll be too upfront to say it directly.

Self reflection - I'm aware we'll all have traits or elements of ourselves that are pretty annoying or grating but I think your reply at RNZ was towards quite a relatively easy target to someone who doesn't post too frequently and seemingly unfair to do so.

Didn't like that tbh LL. It just made you look more of a cunt. Still - you're probably in the right place come to think of it  :soapy tit wank:

Your avatar needs a battering Kev.

 :D

Admittedly so. Although the idea was for it to reflect the club state at different times. The badge has adapted and yup in the current guise it needs a right battering.

Also, it now needs an update so thanks for the reminder  :clap: