Thetownend.com

Supermarine - Saturday, July 6 (KO 2pm)
Hungerford - Tuesday, July 9 (KO 7pm)
Melksham - Tuesday, July 16 (KO 7:30pm)
Highworth - Saturday, July 20

Please also sort some testing opposition

These might yet be testing opposition!

We can all start to get excited for those first line ups.

Trialist * 8 managed by A Trialist.

So expect Pre-Season to start Mon 24th June?

So 1 month to go, no manager, no plan!

Believe we also play West Brom at home on 3rd Aug just not announced yet

Looking at that, I suddenly feel “fatigued”…

Supermarine will beat us again.

Pre-season tour of Wiltshire then.

Fuck. It's still May.
Looking at that list & thinking can I make it to one of those.
Fuck. I can't. Fuck. No. I refuse. No. I won't do it.

Nice to go back to Hungerford. Shame it's a Tuesday

Shame it's become so dull and predictable with supermarine and melksham - used to like the more obscure places I'd never heard of.

Brimbscome and Thrupp the last one I can remember, even though it's local never heard of it

I’m available for those games….

Probably getting Chat GPT to do the fixture list too…

Manager or player?

I enjoyed Melksham last year. Great set up.

Either or both.

Pushing 39 but still got the engine…

We’re be underdogs for all four games🤣

I wonder if we’ll have a manager by then :clap:

LLLL

Quite why you’re chanting my ticker is a mystery.

Great setup indeed for a club that size. Puts Trowbridge to shame.

Didn't enjoy my last visit though. The Scott Lindsey season. Got absolutely drenched. And we didn't even bring the first team.

STFC will head to the Silverlake Stadium to face National League side Eastleigh on Sunday 28 July:

We still have two weekends free, the 13th and 20th? I see a Highworth game in for the later of those two, but its only listed as a Swindon XI

A couple of behind closed doors friendlies announced(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240624/cac390b25024320675b4d28bea926d88.jpg)

Swansea & Southampton apparently.

Behind closed doors so doesn’t really matter :D

Boremuff and Pox  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Depends if the opposition think the same. Wasn't Bristol City last year technically behind closed doors at their training ground, but they streamed it.

I think it was streamed on Robins TV

Are pre-season tours no longer a thing? I think the last time was our promotion season under Wellens - he took them up to the north west - running over sand dunes I think. Good team building.

Costs more than a fiver, so no.

Power for all his faults, even indulged in warm weather training. I think we went to Portugal, Spain and Tenerife during his ownership. This lot think Eastleigh is the seaside.

I won't be attending any. High Wycombe as the "highlight". No thanks.

I'm struggling this year. Might to the local jaunt to Supermarine.

Needs some non-league variety. Don't really care about the league oppo side.

Ah so you go to watch the opposition and not the town? Makes sense!

Their new owner says he wants them to be the next Bournemouth! Its a fairy tail.

I guess you have to give him credit for understanding the limited fan/attendance interest in Wycombe.

Just one of those frustrations where you wonder why Wycombe is more attractive than Swindon.

Because our owner was unwilling to sell.....to anyone.

Definitely a big frustration, but guess that's where we are at with an owner unwilling to sell and the hanger-on risks associated with us.

Let’s be honest - things under Power were a lot better pre Covid than they’ve been since Clem has been here.

I see the players are back today and at the UoG facilities. As it’s only a minute or so from me in years gone by I might have gone and had a nose. But zero interest this year and probably wouldn’t recognise many anyway.

Nothing games against nothing opposition, makes perfect sense to me.

Meh.

Preseason is not about the opposition. Preseason is about scratching that Saturday afternoon itch. Going to some crap non league grounds, having a beer or two in the sunshine, getting an early look at new players and new style, seeing an exciting trialist or two etc etc.

Fwiw I think from a footballing point of view, it’s a decent mix of opposition that will provide more benefit than that summer we played 3/4 Prem/Champ teams at home. I get from a fans point of view it’s not as exciting but a test from League One, Champ and Prem (albeit probably a mixed XI) is a good mix and then the additional non league fixtures.

It’s mostly about fitness but in terms of football, we’ll be able to get more out of a more even challenge against a Wycombe than chasing around a mixed Prem XI for 90 minutes.

Maybe one more lower Champ/League One team at home (not behind closed doors) would have been perfect

That being said, I won’t be at any of them bar maybe one of the local non league ones if the weather is decent, but that’s the same as every summer.

Friendlies are friendlies, so opposition really makes very little difference to prep.  The missed opportunity is around Revenue - all the blather about the weekend of Moyles and Fakes is put firmly in it's place when you consider the Revenue two bigger fixtures could bring in.  Make a bit of a thing about them both, making them into "events", like having an open training session pre-game, meet the players etc.  Have that fabled fanzone in operation for a few hours before the game, or after the game.  Football stadiums are pretty good at turning revenue for footballing events.

Don’t get the Highworth Town friendly may as well let the first team take on the youths at baverstock.

I very much doubt any first teamers will be at that game.  We have those every pre-season, matches where the Academy play with a couple of trialists thrown in.

Is it worth a tenner tho🤔

First day of training tomorrow

Supermarine have got our players promoting their game. Interesting. You would want this on the STFC account as well i would think. Ours may even not call him a winger?

https://x.com/SupermarineFC/status/1808117276417089796

Apparently Ofoborh has changed position and is now a winger!

Somebody tell Mark Kennedy!

It's good that we have the crux of the squad in place in time for pre-season and for the first pre-season game on Saturday. It also gives the players we signed who had historical injury issues the chance to get a proper pre-season training and matches under their belts.

It is indeed Bob.

We now need to see if we will add some depth, our Achilles heel last season

Also the fact we can field what (on paper at least) looks like a competitive first XI without any loan players. Hopefully the loans we do get will add depth and some extra quality

Wycombe tickets out. £15 Adult, £10 OAP, £5 U18, £2 U11.

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2024/july/03/ticket-information-for-wycombe--psf-/

Formatting not great for me. I think that's what it said.

15 quid?  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

£7.50 per half  :D

15 English pound sterling for Wycombe fucking wanderers in a friendly.

Might be a couple more decent signings by then, who knows?

Good luck with that one

TBF it's £12 for Supermarine

I think it’s £10 for Highworth

£8 at Supermarine

The club have shot themselves in the foot over the cost of this, £15 for a friendly vs a club from 1 division above is ridiculous IMO. £10 for a friendly is plenty.

A smaller league 1 club  :doh:

Exactly, not like they are a Birmingham City or Bolton who would bring over a thousand fans to the game too.

Was never going to this anyway.

Still undecided about supermarine

I heard you were washing your hair that day :D

Certainly not moondancing naked around stonehenge.

Both goalies warming up are trialists.

4 trialists named on the team sheet including the 2 keepers.

Interesting to see Johnson starting after his injury, seems to have healed fast.

It would seem to be the way we will line up today

                          A Trialist
                 Wright   Hart     Johnson
McGregor   Clarke   Khan    Dworzak    Longelo
                        McGurk
                               Smith

Has just come to post exactly the same thing.
Only one striker - so I assume a free role for McGurk

Talking of keepers, I see Lewis Ward is a free agent after leaving Charlton.

Hard to believe he’s still only 27. Third time lucky maybe.

Have to be honest I dont really rate him. Average L2 keeper at best.

Which to be fair is all you really need as a backup, even better if on non-contract terms to save money.

@stfcjosh

"Rohan Luthra slough town and i think Matthew Cox Brentford (dont count me on the second one)"


Correction: max Harris

Aguiar injured then?

Surely we will ship him out.

Luthra is a Cardiff player, been on loan to Sluff.

Max Harris - Numb, on loan at Weston super Mud

Rohan Luthra ... is he another giant, 1.95m?  

Where is Delaney?

Injured. Same with Uwakwe still.

I thought someone said injured?

1-0.

Where's bycroft anyway?

What time is the game? Assume there is no stream?

2pm KO.

Not that I know of

Bignot out.

Ta

😁

Doomed

1-1. Going to win the league

Semi-doomed

1-2 Glatzel

Not so doomed

3-1 to Town now, Brown.

Downside is now need something else to moan about.

If only there was a game on TV at 5

 :D

4-1 to Town, Glatzel (85).

FT Supermarine 1-4 Swindon

Who scored the first?

Cain, Galtzel, Brown, Glatzel got the goals in that order.

Thank you.

Hawes just given a match summary on Radio Wilts.

positive, negative, any surprising comments?

Two goalkeeper trialists have been mentioned, but there were a couple of others too. Any info?

first half not good , second half much better. They had a 90 year old left back!

None, Hawes from 30.45, 47.00, 1.20.05 and 1.47.50: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0j3jf4n

Bignot post-match from 2.29.00.

Was going to to Highworth next Saturday but as we’re playing the mystery PL club behind closed doors the day before I’m supposing the team at Highworth will be youth teamers - like the side we put out at Corsham last year.

Brentford, the mystery PL club behind closed doors?

I *think* it's Southampton.

Twitter seems to think the LCB (number 34) in the second half was Billy Kirkman.

Yep. Already been mentioned on here in the transfer thread. Sounds like a promising player.

Be better off playing the game behind closed doors :D

https://x.com/official_stfc/status/1810723112251425175?s=46&t=apeDEwn6zjVWJ-z2qNJ2dw

No Kokolo in the squad. Few trialists

Three outfield trialists and one keeper. Not clear whether any are kept from the Supermarine game but that would be at least one new outfielder.

Bycroft

McGregor

Trailist
Minturn
Trialist

Longelo

Brown
Khan
Cain

Trialist

Drinan


…at a guess

Defo off then. No complaints from me. Was never very impressed so to get some money for him is excellent!   

Thought he always looked decent to be fair. Dangerous going forward but also solid defensively which I think is very rare for wing backs, particularly at this level - usually they are good at one & you have to take the not so good at the other as a compromise. Like Hutton or Hunt.

I liked Kokolo too. Very steady, could do a lot worse.

https://x.com/stfcjosh/status/1810736282340843863?s=46

Midfield trialist

I’m guessing Sammy Robinson

Someone on twitter who is there said his name is Kenzie

Mackenzie Carse

Is that rhyming slang?

Proper youngster - he’s only 5!

Top Celtic academy prospect - apparently.

‘ claims the teenager will join up with new Spiders boss Callum Davidson and his squad after a deal was agreed between the two clubs.

Carse has made 18 appearances in the Lowland League this term for Celtic B. He's scored seven goals from midfield. He has played for Celtic since he was 13.

It's believed Celtic want one of their top academy prospects to be playing at a higher level at this stage of his development, and so Queen's Park has been trusted with him until the end of the campaign.

Queen's Park are desperately looking to bolster their squad this month after a difficult first half of the season.

They currently sit eighth in the Championship, still very much in relegation trouble. Their ambitions at the start of the season were to make a promotion push, and those play-off dreams appear to be dwindling.

0-0 at HT

Sounds like an enthralling first half

STFC second half XI:

Trialist; Williams, Hart, Johnson; Clarke, Ofoborh, Dworzak; Glatzel, Smith.


…just a few things wrong with that

Trialist

Sobowale

Hart
Wright
Johnson

Trialist

Dworzak
Clarke
Ofoborh

Smith
Glatzel

Outfield trialist #34 same as Saturday right - that Billy Kirkman

Glatzel again (I know it’s only pre season)

Got a bit of the Sammy Parkin’s about him imo.

2-0. Dworzak

Finished 2 - 0, wondering what the pitch was like.

The keeper was Max Boruc from
Hibs, nephew of Arthur.

He’s 6’5” so he’s a cert to sign

Just watched Swindon v Hungerford . The best  performance from our new signings was Longelo - very quick and got some good crosses in . I like the look Wright who was constantly organising and chatting to his team mates . The surface was very bobbly and so a lot of missed placed passes. The players from last season who stood out were Glatzel and Dworzak . The best of the trialist was No 17 . Plenty of encouraging signs .

Agreed.

He looked decent yesterday i felt he did the basics very well, certainly would give him another week or two to prove himself.

Have we got a game today? Behind closed doors?

Tomorrow we play an unnamed championship team behind closed doors according to the fixtures

Pretty sure I heard it’s Swansea.

Shame it's not midweek with a proper friendly tomorrow

If you’re bored you could camp outside the CG and wait for their team bus to rock up to be sure.

I thought Bristol City or Southampton?

Saints are premier league.

It’s Swansea who is the team we’re playing behind close doors

Do you know if it's home or away ?

Yep Swansea away.

6 trialists for todays game.

Don’t think there’s any coverage checked on both websites

I think one is Max Borusc goalkeeper again
 

Whens kick off? Would have thought we'd get twitter updates or something.

Well they tweeted the team so hopefully(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240713/81d5a8637889473702f15a78e5428409.jpg)

I thought Kennedy said we wouldn’t be getting many trialist in.

So McGurks picked up a knock?

Uwakwe still not fit, or not wanted like Aguiar?

Delaney and Hall not fit, that starts to become a worry for the opening game at somepoint.

Trialiasts are GK, CB and a wing back.

There are six!

Who are the 4th,5th and 6th trialist :D

2 down at HT

’Each and every goal a hotly disputed penalty?’ 😎

P.S. Not sure why HMHB went through my mind!

2-0 at HT to a very strong Championship line up isnt bad IMO. Swans playing a team of mostly 1st team players.

First half XI: Fisher, Key, Cabango, Lissah, Tymon, Grimes, Allen, Cooper, Abdulai, Ronald, Cullen.

Yep no surprises by the score.  It’s more of a training exercise and chance to look at some trialists.

If we sign any it’ll be one or 2 at best.  Goalkeeper is the focus

I am hearing 1 more midfielder and 1 more wide striker as well as a keeper is the target for signings, that may well have altered now we have sold Aguiar though.

Aguiar was still with us at the time so a midfielder to fill the gap may be something else they’re are looking at now too

We need another cb as well. With Hall and Delaneys record I'm not sure Minturn is enough as back up. Hart will go out on loan. Question is if Johnson is up to it I guess.

But yeah a creative mid to play ahead of Cain makes sense.

2-1 Brown

3-1 FT

still think we need a winger or two with some pace something we are lacking.

Definitely need a winger or two to supply Smith with crosses.

Their 2nd half team

Second half XI: Broome, Naughton, Jones, Pedersen, Dabrowski, Cotterill, Fulton, Bostock, Smith, Congreve, Kuharevich.

Match report: https://www.swanseacity.com/news/report-swansea-city-3-1-swindon-town

Since when did John Bostock play for Swansea?

Must be a trialist? Didn't even think it would be John Bostock. Odd for Swansea to be considering him.

I'd take him back.

Luke Williams loves him i think

Will Randall on trial.

Getting concerned that Jamie Russell and Clem Morfuni may I'm fact be Jake and Elwood Blues.

We'll put the band back together, do a few gigs, we get some bread. Bang! Five thousand bucks

It ends with jailhouse rock

🤔
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r0MK94mP-Q

Another who has never reached his potential.

Anyone know any of the trialists from yesterday?

Hoping today without both Hall and Delaney was a one off, hope that doesn’t become a regular theme.

Haven’t seen Delaney wearing football boots in any of the training pics yet. Hall however looked to be involved in training Thursday but probably too soon to be playing Championship opposition.

Highlights from the Swansea game.

https://youtu.be/DqAcH4Erz08

We seem to have been exposed in our right back position often 1st half.

Brown took his goal really well.

Lovely goal for us. Nothing disastrous at the back I wouldn't say, swansea just looked levels above

The only defensive error was in the 2nd half when our number 36 (Wright?) fucked up bringing the ball out ala Conroy to start the move that gave away the goal.

Also Drinan really should have done better when clean through on goal when it was 2-1.

Cheers, I didnt see our teamsheet only the Swans one.

Will Randall is one of the players on trial

Spent the majority of his time at Notts County last season injured.

https://boards.footymad.net/showthread.php?t=38320850&highlight=randall

Im not sure he’s good enough anyway. As a depth player sure, but not as a main starter

With all the alumni XI attitude to our transfer strategy, I’m surprised they didn’t see Bostock line up against us on Saturday and think “oh yeah he played for us before, let’s have a chat post match”

Who’s off to Melksham tomorrow? Enjoyed it last season - but that was on a nice, sunny afternoon.

Just down the road so I’ll be there.

Nah. Too much hassle from work these days.

Nice set up there.

KO now 7:45 btw, not that it makes much difference

What team is likely to play vs Highworth?

Guessing it’d be similar to the team they sent to Corsham last year - 100% youth teamers.

Probably unaware.

They need to say this really then, not worth getting there and then finding out its a team of kids. Waste of time and journey

This.

It's a good job the club are exceptional at communicating.

No goalkeeping trialist tonight by the looks

How injured is Delaney?!
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240716/4db21c90fbe8b608a51fdbf0c295178f.jpg)

Yeah the Delaney thing is a worry. Hopefully get some updates from Kennedy post match.

I think as everyone is saying, we need another proper CB before the season starts, and not a young punt. As well as the obvious creative reinforcements.

No Hall either

He joined late, so I assume he is behind the others. So less surprised by that one. But after today we have 3 games lined up, not a lot to get people up to speed subject to what preseason they have had elsewhere. I'd be worried starting the first game with Minturn and Johnson as 2 of our back 3. Perhaps others have more faith.

Delaney has been out since February with a knee injury, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is one of those where you see him in September or October.

Hall has managed 60 minutes of football since December, so hopefully just a case of being unfit and needing some building up with his injury history.

Harry Kite one of the triallists?

Jai Rowe also?

Any way this is available on tinterweb?

1-0 down after 3 minutes
1-1 after 4 minutes

2-1 up after nine.

From a corner it would seem.
A corner where we did the love train - whatever tf that means…

I assume...(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240716/be0f67e53320f064b0f08604388562fd.jpg)

Someone on facebook saying Sean Morrison is at the game?

Sam Morshead saying we are playing Southampton, Friday.

Not sure if that was common knowledge and I’ve missed it, but posted anyway.

Left early. Usual type of friendly. Smith could have had 4 or 5. Couple of horrendous defensive lapses.

Stand out for me was No. 24 Trialist. First half played centre back despite being small, but jeez he’s got a leap in him and just about everything went through him - very impressed. Trialist C in the 2nd half at LWB looked more than decent.

Here’s No. 24 for any sleuths out there.

I belive 24 is Jai Rowe from twitter comments.

Sign him up

Not sure about that Aud, not on one game v melksham.

3-1, another Glatzel goal. More £ for when we sell him to Peterborough on deadline day and get wakeling back 😁

Cynic

I was only kidding
At least I think I was

Stood out from the others, though.

Worth another look then!

I wasn't there. His past isn't stellar but he's only 22

Many a true word spoke in jest.

For 22 (soon 23) he played 2 seasons in league 2 already and then has experience in the NL. It doesn't have me super excited, but the Boston forum pick him out as there better player that could play this level. It would be a good aged cb to pick up to compliment the rest we have.

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/24337035.swindon-town-hunt-national-league-defender/

This was in May, regarding Rowe.

Entertaining game and Melksham played well considering their level. Of the triallists I wouldnt be dissapointed if we offered contracts to Jai Rowe and Billy Kirkman (no relation btw!).  Both appear very composed on the ball and feel they would be OK as part of a 24 man squad. Rowe could be an option as cover for RWB, although he played in central defence 1st half, moving to RWB at start of 2nd half.  Kirkman would be cover for LCB position. Not convinced by Will Randall as LWB, although he offered bits and pieces going forwards.

Of the established players, Smith was a real handful and took his goals well, Oforborh looked a bit sluggish to me and got caught in possession a couple of times, whilst Clarke, although mobile and extremely tenacious in the tackle, misplaced a number of passes. Wright looks a class act and Drinan put in his normal hard shift. Glatzel was quiet until his goal.

The highlight was the Melksham assistant manager showing no mercy in rugby tackling the dickhead Melksham youth who invaded the pitch after about 80 minutes. The unmarked police car driving in to the car park after the
game is hopefully going to ensure that the end to his evening is equally as painful.

Wonder who’s 2023 Ferrari that was parked outside the entrance belonged to.

If the answer isn't "Matt Fiddes, former body guard to Michael Jackson", why are we even talking about it. Right adver readers?

Listened to Kennedy’s presser and thought he came across really well. Sounds like Ukwakwe will be gone and I can see us signing Rowe.

I wasn't going to bother going, but you know :shrug:

Lent it to the gardener did you ??  🫢🫢🫢🫢

Yes Jeeves, you can borrow it at the weekend  :)

I hope so. He sounds like a good player. Kennedy mention Delaney‘s injury?

Said his rehab is going well

Where can I listen? What did he say about Uwakwe? Rowe sounds like a highly rated player, plenty of interest from higher levels.

Just listened on BBC Sounds. Interesting that he mentions Jai by name. Managers dont tend to do that with trialists. Sounds like he might be our next signing then.

Bbc sounds

Said Ukwakwe was ill, then said he wouldnt discuss players leaving yet

Sick of the club?

:D

There is also this (may be the same interview? Nice hoodie although the border makes the badge look a bit shite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x494H04RSA

I notice the interviewer didn't even ask about Uwakwe, further signs he's probably off somewhere i guess.

Looks like that is a problem with the kits too to me.

Interview after with Hodgetts said he was ill, didn't say much but did sound like he was off.

Yeah.... he's not been ill for 3 weeks, and he has been seen in social media videos of training.

At least Delaney is training now.

Southampton U21s behind closed doors this afternoon.

(https://scontent-man2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/449635638_912686100899813_5470232395102198959_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s640x640&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=Dv5dY-dMAscQ7kNvgEDiDoX&_nc_ht=scontent-man2-1.xx&oh=00_AYDEW06_hQ8RdPkN9pIi0sP3Xplnz0g8ddBz1iG0VgDgBw&oe=66A037DD)

Three trialists, looks like they're both wing backs in this set up, maybe one CB one WB.

I guess this confirms Highworth will be for the pups tomorrow

I *think* we established Will Randall is #11 didn’t we?

Well, if we're assuming trialists keep their numbers.

Jai Rowe, Randell and Billy Kirkman?

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2024/july/18/town-academy-begin-24-25-pre-season-prep/

It annoys me that this Highworth game is listed as a first team fixture on the club website

whens it kick off?

now

Southampton U21 site, match centre: https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/match/southampton-u21-vs-swindon-town

At Melksham Rowe was 24 and Kirkman 35

Link doesn’t work

Try now

Yet again, that didn’t take long. 1-0

Meh. He's just swapped from the last game to give a different set 60 mins. The starting team is all over the place. So many midfielders there.

Half time 1-0 Southampton.

Doomed

I didn’t recognise #24 in the Swansea highlights. Seemed to be playing centre back, and looked like a more experienced player. Haven’t seen the name mentioned.

Randall was a bit of an outcast at Notts County. We need creative midfielders but something would need to click in a way it didn’t there.

Bostock has more obvious promise, but it seems he dropped away quite a lot last season (as most of their squad did) coinciding with Matt Palmer getting injured and him not having more physical players around him. In Clarke, Ofoborh and Khan - he would have that here, so maybe it could work.

I wonder if Jai Rowe is the other one there today?

Chris Stokes?

Where are you getting the info from? The Southampton link doesn't give me any details (Mind you, I haven't created an account)

Twitter

1-1

Glatzel again

Thank you

Well they havent changed the team much at half time have they?

As i say that, just made a load of subs on 60 mins

They've changed the whole team bar Bycroft on the hour I think.

Will be interesting to see if they produce any highlights like Swansea did.

Mcregregor on for Longelo who only came on at half time.

Not sure what the plan would be but hopefully it was a planned decision.

Drinan with an 84th minute winner.

Nice that all 3 strikers have scored now.

Kennedy said after Melksham that he wanted a 60:30 game...

Yeah...and I know "it's only pre-season" but it's always nice to get a win especially against decent opposition...

Bostock was one of the trialists.

The fact that he played 30 mins suggests that it might well be

Trialist C (the subs) needed to be a midfield player for the shape of the team, so i assume it was him.

Yeah likely just managing minutes right, so they both got some game time today.

I would have taken McGregors 15 mins in the 30 degree heat today myself.

Interesting. Hope we sign him

Would seem like a done deal then? Really good signing that.

Just seen a pic from Saints & you can clearly see Bostock.

Yeah that guy has another pic where you can see trialist number 19, so i assume thats Jai Rowe still?

I'd be happy with Rowe and Bostock signing. It does feel like our trialists are more probables than possibles this summer.

I've not seen that one but if so, probably both are signing with announcements imminent I'm guessing.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GS2e8NEXoAEYpFa?format=jpg&name=large)

Clear as fuck!

Going purely off google images #19 does look like he could be Rowe.

should have gone with the darker shorts and lighter socks and would look similar to the 96/67 third kit.

Definitely

Randall, Bostock and Jai Rowe i believe were the 3.

Not keen on Randall, unless he is very cheap and a bonus player.

Know nothing about Rowe but seems positive reviews from Boston.

Bostock adds more experience and size and gives more midfield options so seems a sensible pick up.

Randall had 2 good seasons with Sutton in L2.
Didn't work at Notts County.

Who knows, signing up with his home town club again could provide an impetus.
We'll see.

Bostock is a player who can control a game from deep which we lack, we’ve got Ofoborh, Clarke, Khan and Cain to an extent who can play the deeper midfield spots but none are really going to be “get their foot on the ball and control the tempo” style midfielders.

The issue with him is that he’s not as mobile nowadays so you’re needing to setup with someone who can do that running in there next to him. Watch the home game against Notts County last season, and from memory, he was okay on the ball but not mobile enough without it.

In combination with a Clarke or Khan or as a sub then it could work but I’m looking at our midfield at the minute as Clarke/Khan rotating next to Ofoborh where Clarke/Khan seem more box to box types (correct me if I’m wrong).

Randall at a reasonable price would be a sensible signing.

Hope we sign Rowe.

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDW7RO8ehBQ

He’s excellent with the media isn’t he. Even to the point that he disagrees with the question asked but responds in such a way that he doesn’t put the guy down. And he’s really not happy with the amount of games in pre season! Not the first time he’s mentioned it.

Recent preseasons are a bit shite for the fans aren't they.

First team play behind closed doors - on a Friday.

Youths play on the Saturday. Same teams every year. Not even a glamour XI friendly.

Probably not an stfc exclusive situation but meh.

Yeah its been a bit crap like that for a while hasn't it.

Yup.

Melksham the first couple of times was good.

Brimscombe and Thrupp was a good one with Wellens.

Think we did one at Devizes once.

But mostly Supermarine, melksham, Eastleigh,   BCD, BCD. I suppose Hungerford was ok. Couldn't get there though!

Trying to remember the last decent preseason game we had. Gareth Bale's last game for Spurs before taking up golf in Spain is all I can come up with.

Surely we've had others in the last 10 years.

Swindon v Liverpool - sell out 2015

Highworth 0 : 3 Swindon 3 H.T. per FB

Ended 4-2 to Swindon.

Does anyone know who the trialist were?

Probably academy not first team trialists?

Academy trialists i think.

Bit naughty to list it as a first team friendly though

Even the Highworth keeper said ‘lots of people here, was it listed as a first team game’

Out first team pathway manager (jobs for the boys) wasnt even there

The weird thing was they did initially say it would be a Swindon XI rather than a first team game.

Then they went and stuck it on the first team match list.

I’m completely guessing here but I wouldn’t have thought it’s the first team pathway managers job to identify the talent - that will still be done within the academy & if they identify a player who they think is capable of being part of the first team squad - then its the pathways managers job to help them transition. Things like getting used to the senior squad training, knowing what time it starts, where you have your meals, what your diet plan is, travelling to away games. Stuff like that and contracts & agents.

Like a glorified babysitter or teacher but I wouldn’t have thoughts it’s his job to judge the talent himself.

I could of course be utterly wrong in the way I’ve interpreted the job title.

I guess, we all know its a job created for the boys though

Trialists were young CBs to take Hunt's spot supposedly.

Most likely.
I mean it’s not purely a Swindon Town thing. It’s a position other clubs have.
I did a quick google about the job title and I know Wolves & Celtic have one but clubs like that I can see why a young player would need help with the step up to senior football. Big clubs, big fan base, massive facilities where you can probably easily get lost etc.

Seems a bit redundant for a club our size. Chances are all the different between youth team & first team is probably like a door or two down a corridor or on the next pitch over kinda thing.

I guess also with the bigger clubs - a first team pathways manager might also be a handy resource to lean on when you bring players in (of any age) from overseas

Had a quick look around to see how the other clubs are doing in their pre season friendlies and what sort of opposition they have been playing against.

These are all the official results and do not includ BCD friendlies which are often not announced.

AFC Wimbledon
Peterborough XI 0-1 AFCW
Met Police 0-3 AFCW
AFCW 2-5 Brentford XI

Accrington Stanley
Acc 1-2 Blackburn
Acc 1-4 Wigan
Acc 0-3 Barnsley

Barrow
FC United of Manchester 0-3 Barrow
Kilmarnock 5-0 Barrow

Bradford
Chorley 2-0 Bradford
Guiseley 2-1 Bradford

Bromley
Millwall 0-0 Bromley
Hornchurch 1-5 Bromley
Tonbridge 2-3 Bromley

Carlisle
Penrith 0-8 Carlisle
Kendal 0-3 Carlisle
Workington 0-0 Carlisle
St Mirren 2-2 Carlisle

Cheltenham
Bishops Cleeve 1-7 Cheltenham
Bath City 2-3 Cheltenham
Evesham 0-3 Cheltenham
Cheltenham 1-5 Plymouth Argyle

Chesterfield
Matlock (5)0-0(3) Chesterfield
Chesterfield 0-3 Nottm Forest
Alfreton 1-2 Chesterfield
Chesterfield 0-3 Sheff Utd

Colchester
Maldon & Tiptree 0-2 Colchester

Crewe
Newcastle Town 0-5 Crewe
Stafford Rangers 1-4 Crewe
Crewe 1-3 Mallorca

Doncaster
Darlington 0-1 Doncaster
Spennymoor 0-2 Doncaster

Fleetwood
Bamber Bridge 0-2 Fleetwood
St Mirren 2-2 Fleetwood
Fleetwood 1-1 Rochdale

Gillingham
Gillingham 0-0 Millwall
Gillingham 2-0 Watford

Grimsby
Grimsby Borough 0-2 Grimsby
Cleethorpes 2-0 Grimsby
Boston 0-2 Grimsby
York 2-1 Grimsby

Harrogate
Harrogate 2-3 Huddersfield
Harrogate 0-3 Leeds XI

Franchise
MKD 1-2 Barnet

Morecambe
Kendal 2-1 Morecambe
Longridge Town 0-1 Morecambe
Burscough 1-2 Morecambe
Workington 1-1 Morecambe

Newport
Barry 2-1 Newport
Llandudno 3-0 Newport

Notts County
Afreton 2-2 Notts
Notts 1-0 Wycombe
Wealdstone 1-2 Notts
MSV Duisburg 3-1 Notts

Port Vale
Newcastle Town 1-3 PV
Kidsgrove 0-1 PV
Bath City 1-0 PV

Salford
Crusaders 1-3 Salford
Bamber Bridge 1-2
FCU Manchester 2-2 Salford

Swindon
Swindon Supermarine 1-4 Swindon
Hungerford 0-2 Swindon
Melksham 1-3 Swindon
Highworth 2-4 Swindon

Tranmere
No games yet

Walsall
Alvechurch 0-3 Walsall
Walsall 0-3 Aston Villa XI
Tamworth 2-3 Walsall

How have Tranmere not had any games.

Dunno, but:

https://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/2024/june/19/afc-fylde-v-tranmere-rovers-ticket-details/

And:

https://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/2024/july/22/tranmere-rovers-v-vauxhall-motors-friendly-postponed/

And the dreaded BCD

Not just that.

EDIT: Beaten to it by Batch.

Surely they had some BCD ones already?

Going to Eastleigh on sunday, anyone else going?

Tranny have had 1 BCD friendly with Blackburn so far, 2 60 min games, they lost 3-0 fist hour then 5-3 2nd hour/

EDIT: Beaten to it by Batch.

Yes but not with the results ;)

Yep. Reminds me i need to buy a ticket and car park spot.

Do we have to buy in advance or just rock up on the day?

Looking at their website they've got the terrace available for away fans but no way to buy a ticket. So I'm presuming we can pay on the day.

https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=6097

Supporters of Swindon Town have been allocated seats in Blocks 1 & 2 in the South Stand and travelling supporters can purchase their tickets by clicking here.

https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=6097

"(South Stand 1 (away))"

I'm sure you can pay on the day.

I'm also sure as its a Friendly you can buy a ticket where the hell you want

Thought we were playing Wycombe Saturday?

You're a week ahead of yourself Aud, Wycombe is a week on Saturday.

Thought the season started then.

#outoftouch

Now there were 2, a 2-0 win v PNE (BCD)
https://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/2024/july/23/match-report---preston-north-end-0-2-tranmere-rovers/

Why so may BCD friendlies these days? Is it because it's not cost effective to have fans? Or some other reason?

Seems immensely easier for clubs to organise. They can have them at what time they want, at their training grounds etc with minimal cost.

Some even stream them for a small price for some income

Harris take : financial

https://southwarknews.co.uk/sport/football/millwall/behind-closed-doors-harris/

It's a massive shame, and many clubs seem to do it now.

I’ve said this before but I can for see a day when match attending fans & stadiums are obsolete.

Then clubs would just need an all weather 5G pitch. If it’s decent enough you can use it for training & all associate teams like the women and the youth. You could even put it indoors so you’ll never have a game called off  - a camera & then people can pay to stream it like they do on iFollow.

No stadium overheads. No match day overheads. Policing, stewards zero.

Maybe not so much for Swindon but for example Manchester United - Old Trafford can hold 75k. How many match day passes do you think they could sell globally? Waaaay more.

You could also potentially increase number of away fans because there would be no need or expense for them to travel. Let’s say Accrington have 1k season ticket holders. We play them at our home on a Tuesday night they are brining what? 100 fans. You stream it & potentially all 1k could watch it.

At the other end of the scale you play Leeds and at the CG they’d be limited to 3k fans at most. You could get 20k streaming it.

Only income you’d lose is food & drink sales. Would have to work out how it works exactly for both regards to home & away teams…

Will it happen? Maybe some day…

The games during Covid were basically an accidental test run of that, and the general feeling was that it wasn't as bad as people feared, but that it was better with a crowd.

I can see the financial argument, but I do think live events are more popular now - it's interesting that the price charged for music gigs has gone through the roof (and people are still paying it) but sports events not so much. The worry for a lower league club like ours though is that Man Utd or Arsenal probably can charge any amount and still sell out or get close to it. Swindon is probably quite a lot more price elastic - much like all the mid-tier festivals going bankrupt.

Maybe!

I think i would of walked away alot sooner before then.

I think they work out that not having away fans is much cheaper so they try a mixture of the two, stream only for away fans & then you still get a crowd, albeit being a bit sterile

I think the near future for the top division is to reduce the number of season tickets each season and increasingly sell tourist packages ie air travel, coach, hotel and car to and from stadium with extras like corporate tickets, meals, meet the players, stadium tours etc. Its already happening but will be the norm soon while the loyal fan can fuck themselves. Not needed any more. They can still contribute to the coffers by streaming. Add in a European league and in a few years a word league with franchises in America, Japan, Africa, Asia and job done. Money rolling in. Man U can still play City and Liverpool to keep the derbies going. Fuck the rest.
Football is already increasingly outside the means of the working person. It will soon be the preserve of rich tourists, of which there will be sufficient all year round to fill the biggest of grounds. The previous lifeblood of the clubs are now nothing but peasants.
Not sure what it means for Town. Theres already a drift from professional football to non league and I can see this continuing.

I miss the old days of Pre-Season.  It would all start in the first week of July, you'd get a snippet of some trialists, some you would have heard of before and would provide a tinge of excitement, other ones you'd never heard of before but they 'looked' good.  I remember seeing Philippe Cuervo against Manchester United in Fraser Digby's testimonial and was convinced we had a global superstar on our hands.
We would play a select bunch of local teams like Bath City, Hungerford, Chippenham Town and Salisbury City before going off on a tour to Finland, Ireland, Ibiza, Austria, Italy, Devon where we would either play Fenerbahce or a local pub team.  We would then return, get a smattering of signings that would further build excitement like a Wayne Allison, a Chris Hay or an exotic Antoine Van Der Linden, before playing a couple of Premiership teams at home ahead of the big season curtain raiser.  I think the last time we had that was in the summer of 2001 when we played Tottenham, Southampton and Derby in that white 3rd kit.  The glory days.

Don't forget pumping little non league Yeovil by 6 or 7 to nil or 1 every single season. 

Yeovil who during the interim then become a solid football league club, surpassed us as one stage with a season in the championship and then completely imploded back to being a non league club again.

I can't see that happening.

You need fans in the premier League for the TV cameras, if not the financials.

Lower league income is still massively dependent on fans through gates. Streaming wouldn't maintain crowds. TV money for an empty league 2 game would be close to zero.

And I stupidly forgot that we always used to have a good morale boosting victory over that mob at the top of the hill in Nailsworth every July.

Remember seeing Duncan Shearer’s first game there, think he scored four.
A goal with either foot & at least one header (can’t remember how he scored the other one) and thinking we’ve got a player here. Took him a while to score his first in a proper game but then scored a boat load

First league goal was the left foot floaty rocket away at Watford. Assist from Fraser!

Yeah, we were there and I bought the match video, which is available on swindon-town-fc.co.uk

I was there too, what a game that was, at times we were brilliant against Watford that day, that goal by Big Dunc was one of the best finishes I have seen at any level.

If anyone has not seen it before skip forwards 21 minutes of this and see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhOR0ujNHZk&t=1289s

Has Minturn played any minutes in pre season?

Yes all he either plays in the 1st half or 2nd half team.  From memory he’s played in all

As it seems like it's gonna be a nice day, think I might pop down on my motorbike to Eastleigh tomorrow.

It appears the away stand isn't open, so any idea of where the Town fans might be congregating, as I haven't bought my ticket yet ?  It seems they're designated seats, so would influence where i  buy my ticket for.

Any local pub likely to be favoured by Town fans ?

Cheers

"Swindon Town supporters should enter the Silverlake Stadium via turnstiles 1-2 for the away section of the stadium."

13.00 KO, guys.

Swindon Town XI:

Bycroft; Wright, Hall, Freckleton; Sobowale, Clarke, Ofoborh, Longelo; Glatzel; Smith, Drinan.

Subs: Evans, Johnson, Khan, Cain, Uwakwe, Mitchell, Minturn, McGregor, Trialist A, Brown, Hart.

3-4-3 formation?

Either that or Glatzel in at AM in a 3-4-1-2. Not sure either Smith or Drinan are going to be wide forwards any time soon!

You’d say that’s probably our strongest 11 on paper at the moment.

Absolutely.

Nice to see Uwakwe back too, but my God that bench is poor currently.

Drinan did play as a wide striker a couple of times last season but he didnt look convincing to me.

Delaney would start in a first choice XI, you'd imagine.

Per the Adver live feed - - The brief excitement of seeing Uwakwe on the teamsheet was quickly quashed as an Eastleigh employee came over to say he was "no longer in the squad"

Excitement is not a word I would use to describe the feeling of seeing Uwakwe on a team sheet.

I know there’s still a couple of weeks to go but it doesn’t feel much different to last season looking at that team sheet.

A passable first XI but woefully short on the bench especially with regards to game changers.

We are miles short, again. We need 4/5 players still.

Agreed.

Just me then who thinks that bench plus Delaney and McGurk is fairly decent? I'm expecting Mitchell to be decent too, rightly or wrongly

Well, you have Khan and Cain who are reasonably experienced players but in the same position. Decent start though.

You then have a bunch of players who haven't reached 5 pro appearances, plus Minturn and Uwakwe.

There are also no attacking players of any sort on the bench, youths or otherwise.

I think we need at least 1 more keeper, a midfielder and a striker TBF to make it a decent bench, thats keeping all the others fit too which is always a concern.

I would be happier with A Keeper, Johnson, Delaney, Minturn, Khan, Cain, McGurk, A striker and A midfielder to choose from, as well as the youngsters. McGurk and Uwakwe currently seem constantly injured or not picked too.

Not sure Khan or Cain will still be here come start of the season though as neither seem to be in Kennedys starting plans it seems.

The Spitfires have Shade and ex Town trialist Brindley starting for them today.

1-0 Eastleigh.

I would not say that.

1-0 down already.

Longelo replaced before the game even starts

That team sheet is way way way short of what we’d need to be competitive at the top end of the league consistently over a whole season (not just 2 months until people get injured and suspended).

Doomed

I wonder who next seasons Reece Devine will be

I'm pretty sure Drinan, Glatzel and Smith won't all start the first league game

I would

Confused....
Two players on trial last week both seem to have made a good impressions. Both now sign for non league clubs.
What is different from last year ?

Not our strongest XI without McGurk in it.

I think its our strongest "currently fit" line up, not our overall strongest line up.

Mcgurk is unproven  only 9 games in league football.

Hardly warrants a definite 1st team place...

Gone a goal down early on in every friendly I think.

Not a good habit.

Definitely missing a McGurk style player. Don’t think it will work having Smith, Drinan and Glatzel on the pitch together.

That's maybe because he's been at Leeds. Proved more than adequate in his appearances last season in my opinion

With the 1st game only 12 days away we are embarrassingly poor.

Can see another very very depressing season ahead....

He’s a decent footballer & a creative outlet. Our only one in fact.
Of course he walks into our strongest XI regardless of how many games he’s played.

Shows how low thar bar is....

Went missing in some games. Moments of utter brilliant in others

Lad has bags of potential but needs time to adjust to proper league football and gain consistency

This.

Have to agree.

Longelo and Minturn replace Triallist A and Grant Hall.

Sure, but that's every flair player ever right?

A flair player with consistency isn't going anywhere near our level.

We haven't seen enough of him to class him as a flair player.

Bags of talent yes, first on the team sheet...no

.

Embarrassing

1 more friendly to go before1st league game

We look so poor and nowhere near ready

Bit of an over reaction

Yeah we looked off pace but not worried it’s a friendly.  We do need a couple of creative players though

Can’t read anything into it. Chelsea drew with Wrexham this week. When we’ve nailed the friendlies in season’s gone by, we then start poorly. They mean very little. The players know they mean very little (especially when there is not a great deal of competition in the squad). Calm heads needed.

Those who went, did we do anything especially well or badly? Any standout performances or shockers?

Really?

Keep that head buried firmly in the sand.

We are looking at a continuation of last season.

Not really.  There was no real standout player for me.  Not sure who the trialist was but didn’t do much either.

Freckleton looked ok when he was on but other than that it was a bit lacklustre.  Not worried though

Here we go again banging the same old drum.  Funny how you only post to criticise. Never seen anything positive from you  #Robinonfire2 

Same old drum?

What drum is that?

Is there anything positive to post?

Obviously not according to you, we may as well end it all now have be done with

Apologies.

Everything looking great gor a spectacular season.

We are well on to smash Chesterfield live on SKY

Say what you think no point holding back.

Port Vale lost to Bath.

They are one of the favourites for promotion.

We beat Plymouth last season, and almost got relegated.

Plenty of ways you can spin friendlies to suit a narrative. I will judge the team Friday night away at Chesterfield.

Only then shall my emotional meltdown commence!!!

Agreed
Town did beat Plymouth last year and looked really good and in fact were unbeaten in the first 8 gamed.
May I say if the beginning of last season didn't happen STFC could easily be in the National league now.
Just hope Cowley is wrong. But....!!

We definitely needed a Kemp type player today.  Whether McGurk will give us that option remains to be seen. 
Were horribly short on options and need at least another  2-3 players whether it be loan or permanent that gives us options to change a game

It's easy to be happy RHM has gone. He was often injured and wasteful.

However, he did offer us raw pace and an impact off the bench.

Defo needs replacing in the same mould.

What ever happened to Okenabirhie? he was strongly rumoured to sign and never did.

I don't agree. You can have  flair players that are reasonably consistent that are still league appropriate.

I meant it's possible he is headed up the leagues, also possible he'll be at a northern supermarine in 3 years. Not seen enough of him to know yet.

Never read much into friendly results.

Read a lot into the squad list though, and nothing suggests a run at the top is budgeted for, as things stand.

I am also worried

but to add balance:

We didn't sign Doyle until August 16th

We didn't sign Antony Grant until September 1st

And I think we can all agree those were our 2 most important players that season.

Trouble is, that was under a different owner.

We were saying for weeks last summer we needed more, and it never came… Flynn then even mentioned for free agent market after the window had closed as we still got nothing.

It all feels the same to me again.

I agree. It does *feel* the same as last season. Just in reverse. We've spent whatever budget we have early to appease ST holders before the deadline. That's how it's currently coming across.

I am just TRYING really hard to give them the benefit of the doubt. I hope (without expectation) that we still have budget left to bring in those 3-4 final pieces that we need.

It’s meh for me at the moment.

The squad doesn’t look bad but it doesn’t look great either.
More robust than last season but not as creative.

I think the one thing we can all agree on; is that the squad doesn’t look complete.
If this is the squad in it’s entirety then we are going to have very similar issues to last season.

We will probably flog Glatzel too, btw.

I look forward to him being hauled off the bus on the way up to chesterfield.

Jacob Wakeling style.

We will then bid for a striker 20 mins before deadline for 50% of his market value and say we tried to replace him :D

Whilst flogging Glatzel at the start of the season would be such a Swindon thing to do.

I feel any 2 of our 3 strikers will get goals - like I would expect Drinan & Smith to get goals. 

Obviously the issue again would be depth.

We desperately need a wide player or two to supply smith with crosses.

We aren't going to play with wingers though.

So you may be waiting a while.

Your statement give me hope, but I’m concerned the way things have slowed up, it’s looking is the budget is nearly gone.  We are still well short , I
 Not convinced the budget is increased by much anyway, yes we have more experienced and physical players which is an improvement but this seems to be counteracted by adding 6 first year pro to the first team squad. 

I’m still weighing up the purchase of a season ticket, I had one for the last 20 year plus but still not convinced after last years crap

Just back from Eastleigh.

I'm not worried about results in preseason but the pattern and manner of play is the most important, and that was fucking dire.

We showed absolutely nothing. The shape of the team was bad, playing Glatz and Clarke as two box to box midfielders in the first half just did not work. Kirkman had an awful start.

There was no discernible plan, no interchanges to get excited about. The entire game was 4 or 5 slow passes to get it to a wingback and hope they did something special, and 90% of their crosses were awful.

IMO this game was our confidence builder prior to season KO. Wycombe will be tough because they are the division above.

That was very very bad and is a real concern.

Pointless signing a 6’5 forward then :D

Assume Randall was the trialist again

Well I am hoping the wingbacks are allowed to cross the ball mate or else it really will be a long season!!

I dont want to annoy you, but Harry Smith is not a battering ram, win every header kind of centre forward, despite his size.

Thinking Kirkman is the only trialist left

Is he better with his feet / technically than some give him credit for then?

If not we are in big trouble.

Fair point but I’d still rather have wide men putting in crosses to give Smith more opportunities to score.

It's not panic stations yet. I still think we'll unload khan, Cain and uwakawe if we can.

Then it's about how we spend that money.

We look to be headed into the league season under cooked squad wise though. Is it like that at almost all the other league 2 teams these days?

I'm assuming that the money we offered Bostock, and possibly the other trialist, is still available and will be spent.

I'm not as gloomy as some (albeit I don't go to pre season games anymore), but still feel we need 3 or 4 more.

We need another Keeper, a number 10/creative type, another striker (a quick/skilful type) and another body in midfield wouldn't go amiss.

Whether we get them or not, only time will tell

He is decent with his feet. His height will probably be more use defensively. I'm not saying he can't win a header, but he isn't physically strong to hold people off necessarily. He's a good all rounder.

The midfield is a huge concern right now for me, as well as options up top. Still 2 weeks before the first game, but i have concerns.

Thanks for the report @riddick.

In two minds about going Saturday. On one hand £15 for a poxy friendly against Wycombe.. Well it wouldn't even be on the list

On the other, off on holiday for our first home games and kind of want to see the new players first.

Will probably go. Fool.

Bignot:

Best part of the day was the ride down there and back ! Nice little ground and friendly.

But the footie was pants ! They scored an early scrappy goal, shot into the ground, hit the post then rebounded off the keeper and in - should be classified as Bycroft og !

After that we looked pretty solid at the back but totally lacked any creativity, don't think their keeper had a shot to save. Our forwards were starved of service, a few overhit crosses from the wing backs, Smith was not happy ! No one creating anything at all through the midfield. I thought it improved a bit when Cain and Kahn came on, but too little too late ! Why didn't McGurk feature, he's hardly played at all.

From the look pre season so far, I'd say we're not gonna concede as many, but as we're creating so little, we'll also not score as many. We need some new blood to lift us out of the 'very average' league 2 category !

https://x.com/adversport/status/1817578314607079474?s=46

Joe Acklam saying that (probably) a loan player due by Tuesday

Can only think mcGurk is injured. Had anyone seen that confirmed?


Edit. Found this vague quote(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240728/61e1673c4c6735a09657174e49c5ab0c.jpg)

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/24477119.swindon-town-opening-opponents-chesterfield-injury-woes/

Think the article mentioned MxcGurk suffering with hip flexor

Sounds exactly like the football Lincoln fans described. Boring.

Thanks @rjack. I found the original quote and attached it. But vague and no timescales, but that they mean much

Think it mentioned hip flexor but yep no timescales but looking like a doubt vs Chesterfield

I can cope with boring football if it's successful football and gets us promoted.

Hip flexor sounds like a Belgian dnb act.

Radio Wiltshire covering the Wycombe game today.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GUDq6Y4WQAAjCwr?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

            Bycroft
Hall Wright Freckleton
Trialist?               Longelo
       Clarke Cotterill
           Glatzel
      Drinan Smith

Looks like a RWB trialist. No McGurk, Delaney, McGregor, Johnson, Hart, Mitchell, Brown or Uwakwe.

Royal Wootton Bassett trialist? Fuck me we’ve sunk further than I feared. 😀

Kirkman still on trial i think. I find it odd you can be on trial all preseason and they still havent made a deciision on him

Weve had trialists come and go in the time he has been there?

Best not to rush these things!🙂

Its Kirkman and Jeff King (ex Chesterfield) on trial apparently

Would rather see a youngster come in then  jeff king waste of a trial.

Glatzel in midfield again? :doh:

why oh why get the proper players in to do the job instead of experimenting.

Maybe playing 3 up top?

Glatzel played wide of a three and 10 last season, suggestion is he's in the 10. Let's see how it goes. Cotterill the deepest lying midfielder so far which is a bit of a surprise.

Cotterill is more of No10 than Glatzel.  With only Clarke being the outright midfielder I fear we will get over run

8 minutes in and Bycroft has already made 2 good saves.

we have no identity yet.

Semi-doomed

Is Triallist A Kirkman?

Think so. Set to sign apparently according to someone on twitter

I know it’s early doors but this set up isn’t working.

Cotterill looks like a rabbit in headlights and Trialist A might as well not be on the pitch at the moment

I think (or rather, Hawes and Hartley think and I repeat) Kirkman is the bench trialist and Jeff King the starting one.

Improving slightly as game progresses

According to the Wycombe site, in friendlies, Wycombe have defeated Championship sides Portsmouth and Watford 4-0 and 3-2 respectively, as well as holding a Chelsea XI to a 2-2 draw behind closed doors on Wednesday.

Functional at best with not much possession.

The no 17 trialist appears to be competent.

Glatzel in what looks like a free role floating around the front 2. Could work if they all chip in with 10-12 in the season.

If we are going to play all of Smith, Drinan and Glatzel at once, we need two more forwards for the squad though.

All sounds very pre-season. They're a bit better, but nothing much happening.

17 certainly looks like King having done a Google, actually looked like one of our better performers to myself and my dad.  We've looked to put the ball into to channels if nothing else is on which we have contested fairly well.  Defense has looked decent enough though Wycombe have been pretty ineffective.

Playing those 3 together just doesn’t work for me but maybe 2nd half I’ll be proved wrong.

Also not sure what Coterill brings to the game either not that it’s his fault being played out of position.

Ofoborh on for Drinan, and er... he's playing 10 according to Hartley. Well.

Sounds like names out of a hat.

I guess if Chesterfield have scouts here they’ll be suitably confused

Maybe, it's a cunning plan.

1-0 Town

Clarke

And Senses Working Overtime is back.

The new Devoy!!!!

Not so doomed.

Off: Rosaire Longelo, Grant Hall and Olly King
On: Tunmise Sobowale, Jake Cain and Harrison Minturn.

Jake Cain LWB.

Khans a gonner isnt he. Not even coming on with 20 mins to go says it all imo

Saving him for Friday?🙂

Just so long as they're smart enough to not sell him until after Friday.

Many there ??.

Two and a half?

2335

Encouraging

let’s hope we have not peaked to soon.

Thanks.  Not bad for a meaningless kick about.

Did it finish 1-0? BBC decided to cut the broadcast after about 70 minutes

Forget the score. Wycombe were better than us and so they should be.

But it wasn't as terrible as I thought it was going to be, well from what you can tell in preseason.

Defensively we were sort of solid. The caveats being we obviously leave space out wide with 3 at the back, and even though we have taller players Wycombe did cause issue with the odd cross and corner.

It's true we are more direct, but it's not pure long ball thankfully. We are struggling to create much clear cut but we did have a few half chances.

Maybe the lspod is fresh in my mind but we had a bit of a problem with Glatzel today. He was sort of in midfield when out of possession then tried to form a front 3 in. Being in midfield didn't work though he got better and busier as the half progressed. Once drinan went off and he was up top proper he didn't really get a sniff.. I'm not sure how we get the most out of our key player. Maybe it was a one off.

Of the newbies longelo was my pick. Freckleton did ok but got caught out positionally a couple of times after balls were played in behind. The rest were fine but not eyecatchingly spectacular.

How will we do this year? No idea. Lots of 1-0 wins and losses id guess. If everyone stays fit

How did Jeff King look? Surely if we decide to sign him, we have to let a defender go?

Looked steady rather than spectacular. Didn't see much from him attacking wise. That's not criticism though.

Suprised we are looking at another defender tbh when we have higher priorities.

My first thought was he reminded me of caddis. Then drs and several other people on Twitter said same. More in stature and movement, ability wise not sure yet.

From a spiteite

Apologies if mentioned before but if we’re going to play Glatzel, Drinan and Smith together then we surely need another forward (1 at least).

A bit against this Glatzel in midfield experiment. For once we have enough profiles up front to mix it up, 2 big men, 1 little 1 big, 1 target man and 2 floating around him. We’ve seen Glatzel can score well enough, we know we need genuine creativity in CAM, it just seems like an excuse to not go all out for a proper option at CAM or an acceptance that we can’t compete enough with other clubs to attract what we need.

If we are going to play 3 up top then I’d prefer either Smith or Drinan in the middle with Glatzel & McGurk (or someone new) either side of them.

So Sam has written that we are likely to sign up to 3 more this week, with one being a backup keeper.
If that’s the case I’m assuming we aren’t likely to sign King & Kirkman.

As someone pointed out the fact Khan didn’t play today (assuming he didn’t come on late) looks like he is off. Presumably if it’s to Chesterfield we aren’t going to let him go until after Friday

Will be a swap deal with King perhaps?

I don't believe him is contracted to Chesterfield

Heard Gillingham have showed interest in him but whether it amounts to anything we shall see

My opinion on today

We were effective but not spectacular.

We will win more than last season but unfortunately I foresee it being ugly football and the goals won’t be free flowing either way.

Playing Drinan Smith & Glatzel together doesn’t work but I may well be proved wrong.  Sadly I think the management will stick with playing Glatzel behind Drinan & Smith.  It doesn’t work at present but maybe in time I’ll be proved wrong.

Ofboro looks like he’s been following the Akinfenwa diet over the football  break.  He is also not a   Number 10 / attacking midfielder.

Cotterill looked out of place but being as every other town player was playing his position as No 10 it’s no surprise.  
I fear Cotterill played midfield today to use his height which didn’t work.

Trialist A whether Kirkman or King had a mare of a start but improved.  He’s not convinced me though.

We desperately need a player to link up our midfield we looked flat and very much a direct team but maybe that’s how Kennedy wants us to be.


If you come to watch Swindon next season for flowing exciting football you will be disappointed. That may not be a bad thing though as I think playing ugly and winning maybe our only way out of this league.

When was the last time we actually played exciting flowing football? I just want us to be solid for once. Look at Mansfield last season. Nothing exciting. Just solid and well drilled.

I think people are misinterpreting what they are trying to do in midfield. There is no number 10. So far in preseason we have played with one deep midfielder, and that guy isn't a traditional ball winner. He is there to dictate play, quarterback style, get the ball to the wingbacks etc. Thats where the Swansea lad played today. The other two midfielders are playing as number 8's. Box to box midfielders who close down aggressively with the forwards and look to join the wing backs and 2 forwards in the final third. Thats where Clarke is playing as the right sided 8, and glatzel has been playing the left sided 8. Its not Glatels position, and i don't think its Cotterils either. He played Ofoborh there today second half, not sure its his position either. So feels like this is maybe the further midfield player they are looking to recruit.

I know we're trying to flog them, but how would Cain and Khan fit into the system based on what you've seen? Irrelevant really but interesting to get a thought on what 'could' have been.

Well, Cain came on at LWB.


That's interesting stuff, thank you. Sounds a bit like the Thomson/Kasim/Luongo midfield - been a while since we've played with a deeper lying creative midfielder.

By a while you mean not long? - Reed.

Well, probably, but not sure I'd quite count Reed as he also had plenty of defensive duties and got about the pitch. He was a bit more of a hybrid than a Kasim.

Yeah maybe, i think Reed played more simple passes. This guy needs to be able to hit the crossfield balls to wingbacks that are attacking.



I'm not sure they do, which is why they are probably trying to move them on. I think Cain could play as the left sided 8 honestly, but it depends on work rate. Clarke works extremely hard to close people down as well as making forward runs, as per his goal today.

I'm not sure we will always play like this. Russell talked a lot in The Moonraker about having two deep midfield players, so i guess its about options.

Its early days, but just sharing how i've seen them set up against Wycombe and Eastleigh.

Whats been disappointing so far has been the wing backs. They are supposed to get forward and give the width to the attack. I've not seen very much of that so far. Longelo did it well a couple of times today, and on one occasion that resulted in a goal. But so far Longelo/Sobowale haven't been on the pitch at the same time because of trialists. I assume they both start in the league so it will be interesting to see.

How did Smith play today as I’ve not read any comments🤔

Longelo was my mom but I completely agree about their attacking or lack of.

Could do with a Hutton, but with a better cross!

Hmmm. He adds something, but i think he will frustrate people. He has that unfortunate 'Andy Williams' style body language of shrugging his shoulders and flapping his arms around when things don't go his way and he blames others.

The team don't know how to use him yet. Bycroft couldn't hit him with long kicks (his kicks were really bad actually), and the team struggled to anticipate his flicks on's.

At present i think Drinan and Glatzel is my preferred front two. I'm sure Smith will start though.

Thanks Riddick for your analysis. I still think smith would benefit from wide players getting crosses into the box even though he scores most of his goals on the ground.

Yeah that's fair, and i think the lack of attacking from the wing backs that i mentioned has not helped him as much so far.

I mean it’s a bit of guesswork but if we are playing a deep Quarterback midfielder - I’d have thought Cain would be quite well suited to that.

From what has been explain it seems like we’ve signed midfielders to play either a 4,8 & 10 or two 8s & a 10 but are lining up with two 8s & a quarterback effectively making McGurk & Ofoborh pretty obsolete to my mind anyway.

I would absolutely not play Glatzel in midfield either. It should be Glatzel up front with one of Drinan & Smith with him.

Maybe it’s a ‘let’s try this because it’s pre season’ but on what I’ve read on here (and that is all. I’ve not seen any games myself) the tactics sound quite square peg round holey.

I disagree with this. He definitely made some bad kicks but I thought there were some accurate longer kicks onto Smith's head.

Smith was marked by their big man and it was a good tussle that I'd say he lost. When he did win it, we didn't really capitalise.

But regardless, it was very apparent we weren't trying to play out short much from bycroft .

I don't think Cain can play at this level, it's not about a position.  He is similar to Aguiar, they struggle to get involved in games, which suggests they let the game go on around them at times and can't find the right positions, regardless of where they should be playing.  That's a tough description maybe, he has good technique, as shown by his dead ball skills, but very good technical players sometimes don't make it.

An enjoyable game. What I took from today:-
Overall much more aggressive out of possession and more direct than last season
Cotterill looked very composed and tidy in possession in the defensive midfield position. Motm for me.
Hall is a quality player - if he can stay fit he will be a real asset. Wright also very impressive.
Freckleton has a mistake in him, but has the attributes to be a decent player
Unlike some others I felt that Longelo wasn't great particularly in the 1st half when he didn't beat his man at all
Bycroft made some quality saves, although kicking was indifferent
Smith and Drinan didn't link particularly well and feel Glatzel will probably start with Smith in a front 2 on Friday
Was sat directly behind Paul Cook and Gary Roberts and sure they will feel they can exploit the space behind our wing backs. Wycombe were very wasteful in possession and could have been a couple of goals up after 10 minutes
Still need a couple of flair players. Ideally a pacy forward as an alternative to play off Smith and a number 10 particularly given the injury to McGurk
Finally Khan surely has to be on his way getting no game time at all

I've always thought give Cain a run of games as a 10 and you might be surprised by him. He's got a great touch and good technique. Trying to turn him in to anything else is probably a waste of time. Too small and/or not quick enough.

A CDM he is not and a LWB and I can't imagine he is either.

I thought it was an okay performance bearing in mind we were playing a side a league above us. I think Bycroft had to make about 4 saves in the first 10 mins or so. We look to be a bit more solid defensively then we have done but we also don’t look like creating much. The RB trialist looked decent as did Longelo. Very well taken goal by Clarke. With McGurk back, who knows? Maybe we could be a decent side (first 11 that is). We may end up grinding out a few 1-0 wins. I definitely get the impression we will be harder to beat. I didn’t see too much from the strikers. Khan seems to be out of favour and will presumably move on.   Cain didn’t do too badly with his cameo.

Although I’m a big XTC fan this doesn’t work as a goal song for me

Unless we score 1-2-3-4-5

It’s a numerical song and it’s local. For me it’s perfect. Always thought the fans should shout the number out of how many we’ve scored. Crawley last season we would have run into problems when the 6th went in ;)

I think the thing we might need to get used to it that we are potentially going to be a dour and obdurate side. Think of the old '1-0 to the Arsenal' team perhaps? Kennedy was renown for this in previous roles.

There is a balance between being ultra defensive and swashbuckling. I hope we find that, but think the move from too much of the latter to a lot of the former might be a bitter pill to swallow.

Previous regimes gambled that our perceived attacking prowess would more than make up for the defensive frailties/shambles. Obviously that was proven to be bollocks. Any successful side has to start by being defensively sound and build from there.

It might be a painful watch at times this season but it’s a start to becoming competitive in L2.

Footballing fundamental Rules.

No.1 Build your defence first.
No.2 keep possession.
No.3 If in doubt, kick it out.

I’m sure you can add more and rejig the running order.

It rings 1-0 to the Arsenal George Graham era🤣

It's a million times better than Palace's 'glad all over, which seems to turn fans into labotimized clapping seals. And at least it's local.

Still don't think we need goal music, but everyone seems to do it.

Dull football is fine if it is effective. Or rather it's forgiven if you win

What if we finish 14th with it? Suspect there will be a bit of a backlash.

Don’t think anyone will mind if it gets us out of this awful league- often said that you don’t get out of it by pretty football

As I saw somebody else mention here though

It's all well and good getting out of this league at all cost.

But imagine we did scrape promotion with this side.

What sort of foundation do we have to be able to compete in the league above?

Obviously I want us to go up. But the 'as long as we get out of this league' thing is only relevant if we think we might actually stay in league one once we get there.

Lets worry about that in the Summer after we go up ;)

FWIW I have spoken to several TEFers about this very concern.

There was an interesting bit in the Moonraker Russell interview where he says some of our signings are only on one year deals exactly because they wouldn't be right for L1... which is an interesting thing to say publicly.

I imagine ‘staying in L1’ is a bridge to worry about crossing when we get to it.

Not whilst we are 376 miles away from it & can’t even see it.

presumably the club have an option to extend those deals if / when we inevitably are in league 2 again next year.

The cringiest thing ever.

One twat on the fb groups argument for keeping it was "people seem happy" when its played.

What after a goal has gone in, they seem happy? Fucking numpty.

Of course.

But the point is (and this is very hypothetical)

I would rather create an indentity, culture and playing style that would suit us well in the divison above. Even if it meant our progression in league 2 might be slower.

But there is no plan with this regime. Every year it just gets scrapped and we start again.

Honestly

I don’t think you can really build anything in football unless you’re paying the big bucks (relative to what league you are in) & you can pay those big bucks long term enough.

So many players on 1 & 2 year deals these days. Anyone on a one year deal can effectively start looking else where after 6 months. Two year deal and 18 months in you get to the dilemma of cash in or keep and let go for free if they hit form because there will be other clubs who will turn their head by offering them more money.

Might be slightly extenuating circumstances but Crawley have gone up & lost all their players.

Down here the likes of your Wrexhams & Stockport can build ‘something’ but for us - we have to roll the dice every year and hope we roll a 6.

If not we chuck the dice in the bin and get another one & roll again and hope for the same.

No complaints during the Lou Macari era which wasnt pretty to watch but successful😁

Lot of 1-0’s then!

You have a point in terms of personnel but I was also thinking along the lines of how we play and which targets we identify who will fit our model.

Take Peterborough for example. No matter who is in charge the club will always play front foot, attacking football and their philosophy is to buy top non league / league 2 talent from the leagues below and hope they can make the step up. Then sell them for big bucks.

Yes they keep going back to Ferguson but that's because he's proven time and time again he can get a tune out of young players and flip them for millions. Whilst also finishing in the top 6.

The reason our fan base are so shit scared of losing Glatzel is because we have no faith he will be replaced adequately.

Our season almost hinges on him being having to be really good.

Peterborough lose a Glatzel every 6 months. But then they just get another one. Usually by paying a fee for a player the other club wants to keep.

Thing is whatever you do in terms of songs/music you will never please everyone.

More people appear to like GAO though than don’t.

 as others have said, if we start of with a run of defeats, things could get ugly very quickly.  A lot of posters have been keen to see a recruitment policy similar to Sutton but sympathy for 'pragmatic' football tends to run out very quickly.

As others have said I think if we start bad people will turn again quickly.

Don’t think we will get any better than mid table and cannot see us progressing without new owners which doesn’t seem on the table at the moment

True, however, in all fairness Jim the menu for a number of years had been pretty much akin to WW2 rations.

Famished under Power starved under the current owner.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Still no sign of that GK we were close too almost 2 weeks ago.....

He will be arriving with the Stratton Bank roof

The County Ground pitch has been made narrower, assume that’s an indication of the style of play this season.

seen a photo of it from the Wycombe game. Very narrow.

Well said, i forgot to say this after watching the Wycombe game. Yeah it was very noticeable, perhaps 2-3 yards narrower i think.

Not sure i like that approach, but oh well.

Decades ago I remember the County Ground pitch was one of the biggest in the country.

Yeah it fitted with the generally expansive style we had.

A narrow pitch with wing backs seems an odd approach, but there you go.

Smaller pitch + Bigger defenders = Less goals conceded

(https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/d6a/dc7/4a5001b7beea096457f480c8808572428b-09-roll-safe.rhorizontal.w700.jpg)

Smaller pitch = More box entries (shudder with the Lindsey term)

Genuinely works! Kills pacier teams a bit too as there is less space.  Can't say I noticed v Wycombe mind.

I have no doubt Di Canio wanted it at it’s maximum to accommodate Matt Ritchie & our superior fitness.

Makes that permafrost bit in front of the DR less troublesome in the winter.

Smaller pitch more throw ins?

Tennis balls?

Throw ins?

We're shit at throw ins and have been for years.

Apparently, we’re after some bloke called Stretch Armstrong 😉

Maybe the club are planning to double row the advertising hoardings  :D

Aussie plumbing services all work guaranteed 😁

Club owner owns a plumbing company and the shitters and hot water in the stadium dont even work properly

Shitheads down the road always complain about the state of the Stratton bank bogs whenever we’ve played them.