Thetownend.com

I see there are lots of unsold seats for Saturday, the downward spiral continues. Will be bolstered by a few of our Welsh friends. But still.....

Town 0-3 Newport att: 6,655 (705 away)

Just like the manager I am not bothered when we win our first game. We have been excellent in our first few games and I don’t see much wrong at all with how we are playing! Score prediction ?-?, it doesn’t matter!

Well whoever we play in defence could well have their work cut out marking the tallest player in the football league in Kyle Hudlin at 6 foot 9 who is on loan from Huddersfield.

Newport will be without ex Town loan defender Ciaran Brennan and centre back  Kyle Jameson after both were sent off on Saturday.

Difficult to get too excited about the game for me after the poor showing on Saturday (and previously). Smith suspended and possible injuries to Glatzel, Hall and Clarke means it could well be 2 very changed teams on Saturday.

2-1 defeat with Kilkenny scoring in front of 7,345 (701 Newps).

Also don't forget its another fucking 12.30 KO.

Hudlin might be tall but he's absolutely horrific at football.

Don't think he's scored a goal in around 2 years.

Cue a hat-trick on Saturday  :D

Nailed on goal for him in the opening minutes then!

When I have seen him he has been poor but was one of non league footballs hottest properties a few years back at Solihull hence his £300k transfer there after scoring 17 goals there in the Conference. He is a huge lump and all elbows. Apparently he was a target for us before he went there.

He has only played the equivalent of 7 full 90 min league games in 2 years though.

He though score 4 goals in 4 games for AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy and 1 goal for Huddersfield at Middlesbrough in the EFL cup in that time.

Watch Jeph Lukecott score his first goal since he left Swindon, he hasnt scored in 30 games since he last scored for Swindon against AFC Wimbledon (his only goals in his last 53 appearances!).

Town 1-1 Newport att: 7,231 (612 away)

Maybe if something ridiculous happens like their keeper getting sent off and an outfield player having to spend almost an hour in the goal, we might have enough about us  to win. Otherwise I'm afraid we're facing another defeat. Swindon 0 Newport 2

Well something  has got to give 4-1 town  in front of 5600 crowd.

 Another week and another disappointing performance.  It could end up in a 4-0 defeat. I think I will listen on the radio this time.

Not going to watch this. Look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts after the game.

Despite what Kennedy might say the team desperately needs a win, hopefully this is the game they get it.
Almost don’t care how, an ugly 1-0 will do.

We desperately need a win against Newport.  Everyone, the club, the fans, the players, the manager, the tea lady, the kitmen, everyone.  Surely we are due a good performance and 3 points....

Think I'll be watching the T20 Finals Day in the hope that Somerset can take the 2nd step on course of the Quadruple!

Agreed....Everyone needs a lift!

I would take 3 ugly wins in a row to get confidence back over the quality of football right now.

Not got anything to do this weekend but I'll probably try and find something else to do than watch it for free on my firestick.

Won't be in the UK for this one so not going- probably the cue for giving the Welsh a damn good thrashing.

I hope it won't be the alternative option. I'm in Houston and will be visiting Johnson Space Centre. I pray it won't be "Houston- we've had a problem"

Still can't see where the creativity will come from and with Smith now out there's no one to be on the receiving end of crosses.

A comfortable 1-0 win for Newport coming.

Crowd will be a very empty looking "7120"

Hopefully this is the game where things finally click but I wouldn't be surprised by a 3-0 defeat.

Win this one with a good performance, proclaim the corner has been turned, lose next 4.

It's Swindon town

2 : 1, attendance 7,089.

Alright John McGreal

1-3 L

Based on possibly faulty logic, as Newport will be fielding a full time keeper I'm assuming that the instruction will be to rain shots upon their goal from all angles at every opportunity.

Would like to see a midfield of Cotterill, Kilkenny & Butterworth.

Would like to see a front two of Tshimanga & Glatzel if fit.

Would like to eventually see if Smith is actually any good with back to goal & ball played to feet.
Nearly everything seems to have been fired at him at chest high or above so far.

Not checked back but wouldn't be surprised if 3 consecutive home defeats at the start of a season adds to the list of unwanted club records.

I'll go 1-1 & then another week to wait before our next opponents are sent scurrying back to Scotland with no points.

Not if you are a defender and value your nose.

Yeah, PDC always used to bang on about a nasty striker but don't think that planting the elbow is what he had in mind.

Smith might have more likely to get away with it had it been a defensive corner.

No idea what his red card history is like but suspect that Saturday wasn't the first one.

3-2 town  :pint:

Well there was this last season...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66413551.amp

anyone recognise?

We’re going to lose, duh.

Nope

Having watched that vid I would say it's obvious what the starting 11 is going to be, and I'm slightly concerned there was no sign of Delaney, I hope that last game didn't do damage to him.

Given you raised the question I had to go and check this out.

In the Premier league season we lost first 3 including Vs Liverpool and Man City.

Had to go back to 1956-57 season for previous time, when we lost first 4 in D3 South. Sure not many of us remember that.

Last time we lost first 2 was 1999-2000 when we finished bottom of second tier.

5 in 253

What video?

Edit: Ah! This video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jCqXMPtaME

Not so much. Smith had a blue bib on same as Wright but smith will clearly not be playing.

Watch the video and you can see the shape they were using in training. It was

Byford
King (RWB)
Cox (LWB)
Sobowaler (RCB)
Wright (CB)
Freckleton (LCB)
Kilkenny
Butterworth
Cain
Drinan
Tshimanga

Now this video may be from earlier in the week, so i expect Cotterill to play over either Butterworth or Cain. But i struggle to see thats not the team given injuries to Hall, Clarke, Longelo and Smiths suspension.

He really doesn't rate Minturn does he?

Probably the only thing me and him agree on.

I don't blame him to be honest. I don't think he's good enough right now and should have been loaned out to a National League side.

One per season (roughly) but that does seem a bit more than I would expect.

I am afraid for something sensible like that to happen, we would need adequate squad planning and depth.

Instead we have Grant Hall and Ryan Delaney both arriving made of breadsticks.

Morfuni can keep chatting about the academy being successful all he wants, but unless there's a pathway into the first team it's completely pointless.

Minturn is going to end up 2-3 years behind where he should be because he's sat on a bench (or at home) when like you rightfully said, he should be playing in the 5th tier learning his trade.

Shambles.

Similarly McGregor, who's gone from being the next big thing to not getting minutes in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy or being loaned out.

Our first team pathways are abysmal. We should hire someone to manage them.

James Olayanika.

That's not strictly true. We've cashed in on a few youngsters, some of which funded first team recruitment - at least that's how I read Sam Ms piece.

The argument of robbing Peter to pay Paul is separate. As a fan we would all love to see one of our own have a bit of a run in the red shirt then be sold on for millions to progress their career.

I think players like Minturn need to be very careful as their window of EFL opportunity won't last forever. Agree there totally.

I assume you are referring to Harley Hunt? I wouldn't bank on many of those. I would consider him a bit of a generational freak rather than something we can come to expect regularly.

Expect we will pick up a win this weekend and the trend to follow much like last season. A torrid 4/5 games, pick up a win somewhere, shouts of “we’ve turned a corner, now our season starts” and mocking of anyone who criticised during the previous 4/5 games, followed by another torrid run of games before our next win. Rinse and repeat, get told multiple times throughout the season “where are the moaners now” after an unconvincing 1-0/2-1 scraped win and finish 17th.

Small samples sizes but I’ve yet to see a RWB this season look as assured & adequate as McGregor did at the back end of last season.

I'm of the maybe unpopular opinion that Minturn is better than Freckles. He's just been badly managed

I'd say Freckleton's been better than Hall so far... It's an interesting one and I know stats aren't everything, but stats nerdery site Whoscored has him as our second best player so far after Kilkenny:

https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/159/Show/England-Swindon

I've tried to work out why and I think it's interceptions - Freckleton makes a lot of them!

Freckleton’s a strange one. His defensive numbers are decent but he gives a sort of shaky feeling when watching him on the ball like you’re always on edge for a slip up or misplaced pass so that potentially weighs on peoples minds.

Him being left footed as well gives him the edge on Minturn for what CB spaces are open.

Personally I think Freckles is a better player than Minturn.

Minturn needs more mans football game time, but I think Freckles has more physical presence than Minturn, he is also that bit older than Minturn and for me it shows.

I would try and get Minturn out on loan in the Conference for a few months if we have enough cover at the back with the injuries now recovering (until Hall last week).

Give him time. I hear he is really good at his job and is a big part of the clubs future

Town 1 Moreton-in-Marsh exiles 1 att: 6,890 (550 Taffs)

I was. There have been a couple of the last few Clem years I think? Don't know if fees even covers the cost of the academy but in this one isolated instance its helped funding.

you are right though.

Gunning must have some really incriminating evidence.

Perhaps he is good at footrubs

My mind has gone blank to be honest. We benefited from Twine. Botan Ameen could go for a fair few quid. I watched him a couple of times and he seems to be built quite well for somebody his age.

I've probably forgotten the other kids we've had tapped up. Like your Jayden Bogles etc.

We have always had good youngsters poached by bigger sides, often for decent fees but for whatever reason they are not announced publically.

A few years back we lost 3 young players to Chelsea and got a fee of over £100k for them (early Power reign I think) and also we got £250k+ add ons under Power again when Brighton bought Marcus Ifill.

I have heard there is also Chris Francis at Palace which we have an add on deal in place due to development fee structure from his time with us.

I don't know if these fees go back directly into the academy running or the 1st team budget.

I think Marcus Ifill & Jude Soonsup-Bell too…

Although those could be the best part of 10 years ago now for all I know…

Ifill left Jan 2020 and Soonsup-Bell 2016 with the other 2 players I mentioned.

I must be getting mixed up!

Kennedy has confirmed in his interview he is training with the club.

Some more really strange quotes i thought today from Him. Firstly on Glatzels head injury he said the following... We followed the concussion protocol with Paul, every club is different with their programme and today is our day to assess people. Surely we aren't checking concussions 5 days later?

Mark Kennedy on Trialists:

James has been in, I know him from playing against him. Great skills and creativity, I struggle to understand why he doesn't have a club. We have brought him in to have a look at him and Marcus worked with him for over a year. He has done very well and I have said to him if he somebody else comes in then he can do that but we want people to enhance the session.

Just fucking sign him if he is as good as you say why advertise you are happy for someone else to offer him it first

Think that's fairly normal, some concussions can be delayed onset. You don't *only* check 5 days later, you do the test at the time, then repeat it 24 hours and say, 5 days later. I'm surprised every club is different though, you think that would be totally standardised!

There is a very clear concussion protocol guidlines for minimum time before they can play again. You have to pass every stage before getting the OK. Not clear if they are mandatory.

I guess though that the club could put additional gates in that lengthen the process.

www.thefa.com%2F-%2Fmedia%2Fcfa%2Fglobal%2Ffiles%2F2023%2Fthe-fa-concussion-guidelines.ashx&usg=AOvVaw0cSJUpqKeMWshL5C18XFXM&opi=89978449


and


Which is why it is a minimum of 7 days.

It's a bit naff to laugh at accents, but Mark Kennedy talking about "final turd entries" feels more appropriate than he probably intends it to be.

Trying to get in round the back would at least be a strategy.

In the Savoy, having decided get the drowning of the sorrows out of the way first.

Nice walk down, dodging pools of vomit, taking a deep breath through the zone of distinct smell of pot, not to mention all of the crap early morning driving on display.

Anyway, glad that Kennedy recognised the talent & ability of McGurk in the presser.
Hopefully he'll be in the squad today.
It then follows that a player that is "above L2 level" should be playing every week when fit.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GXYUS4UXYAE1FVs?format=jpg&name=large)

Glatzel and Tshimanga partnership
↩️ Cotterill, Sobowale, Glatzel, Cox come in
👋 Sean McGurk returns to the squad

Sobowale RCB ahead of Minturn?

Cold turkey day. Couldn't resist the pull for the first two games but now reality bites. First game without a ticket for 29 years. Horrible. Hope we win.
Going to go for a very long walk.

It seems so mate, no Delaney today so he must have had an injury this week as he should probably have made the bench against his old team.

Looks like we’ll be forced to play some football with Glatz and Tshimanga up front.

You say that now ;)

If we can’t string a decent performance together with that side then fuck knows when we will

And against a makeshift defence that Newport have been forced to put out today with their 2 1st choice CB's suspended.

A Newport clean sheet guaranteed then  ;)

Unfortunately very probable!

Smith, Clarke and Hall all not lived up to expectations so far, hopefully the lads coming in perform.

Because he is better than Minturn

None of them bad players, all come here with decent reviews from former clubs, you’d hope they eventually click. In saying that, so much of the 2010/11 side were decent players and it just never happened here

With regards to Hall it’s almost as if we’ve got the player we had first time round back. Full of errors and doing stupid things and a lot of people didn’t really think much of him at the time. I’m hoping at some point the 10+ years of experience since at a higher level might start showing but it would be just our luck that he’s as erratic at the back end of his career as he was at the start.

After ‘swearing down bruv’ that I’m done with this stupid fucking club I’ll instead be frantically refreshing the match day page hoping to see some GET IIIIIIIIIIIINs.

Popping to DC today, going to the Lincoln Memorial. I’ll ask Abe for some good luck, which we shouldn’t need considering Newport’s issues at the back, but do need because we are shit. A win is completely necessary today.

Crowd extremely sparse. Even for a mid day kick off on Sky.

Attendance will still be announced as 7,780

Qunk
Can fully relate to your post. COYRs

I was just thinking that too, other than the Newport end of course.

Maybe, just maybe we are going 4 at the back today and not the 3/5.

We'll get at least a point today as I just bet against us.

Any idea if I'm able to watch the game on sky go on my phone? Can only see the Millwall v Leeds game. No access to laptop.

Town definately lining up with 3 accross CB. Ho hum.

Trying to buy an ifollow pass and the website is not giving me the option, any ideas, it just loops and doesn’t let you pay for it

Good long throw by Wright bu Freckletons header goes softly wide.

Try changing browser mate.

Team suddenly looks like a team of midgets again. Could be a good thing mobility wise or could be another issue.

1-0 Tshimanga

We did a goal in the box!

GET IIIIIIIIIIIIN

Well taken low finish after a good free kick delivery from Kilkenny into the box.

Butterworth has a shot from 30 yards, scuffed well wide.

Cotterill breaks with pace, beats his man and shoots just wide from 20 yards.

Tried chrome and safari, same result

Ey,don't be cheering on here!🙂
Allefuckinlujah

Tidy finish, Newport defending left a bit to be desired.

well we've asked for more efforts at goal and we've had 4 shots so far with 1 on target and 1 goal.

Tshimanga dwelled too long ont he ball in the box, good chance.

I’m such a cunt/moron 😁

Unfortunately not, because of the red button it won't work...

Very good interception by Freckles there.

Freckles then gives it away cheaply in our half.

Newport struggling with crosses, Tchminanga and Glatz causing havoc in the box.

Cotteril shot just wide from 20 yards.

Good tackle by Sobo in our box.

impressed with our work rate so far. Closing down. Winning tackles but a couple times we've dwindled on the ball and been caught out.
Bus positive so far compared to our last shower of shite performance

Ah very annoying. Thanks though!

Cox wins a free kick on the touchline, Town playing a far more expansive passing game so far than we have before.

Poor delivery by King though from the FK.

Well I’ve tried to pay for the game on iFollow, but it won’t let me, must be too much cash flow around the club

Newport are not clearing their lines well so far, we seem to be so close to every clearance, somethign will fall our way soon with the loose balls.

Best 15 minutes we've played this season

Did you try a different browser mate?

Great block by Sobo in the box.

2-0 Glatz

And another one!

Town break and the ball goes to Cox and he puts a perfect cross in for Glatz header from 6 yards. Lovely move.

Safari, chrome, Firefox all the same

Well, this is a bit more like it!

I've got a feeling we wouldn't be doing this well without Smith being suspended

Marvellous . Great defending from Sobo, brilliant cross and Glatzel brave header. Lovely stuff

Newport look defensively like we did last season.

Having a team with some speed and mobility makes all the difference, who’d have thought it. Need to put this lot to the sword now.

Great saving tackle from Sobowale.  Swift break and inch perfect from Cox and Glatz with cross and finish  :pint:

Could the problem be who is holding the mobile? ;)

Shame we are going to lose the next 137 games

3-0

WTF are we witnessing

this isn't a team we've seen so far this season

Newports defence is something else.

Whats the hell is going on?

So true.

Not complaining.

We’re knocking the ball about but still look solidish at the back. Plus Newport are awful.

Absolutely no complaints from me!

I've cracked the code lads. Just need to put 20 sheets on us to lose every week.

Anyone posting the goals on twitter? I missed the second. Ian in Florida has given up like a lot of us.

Sky has just dropped for me, anyone else?

And iFollow.

Yeah mines gone dark.

yep, and mine. 

Sky Sports + has gone off

Of all the matches,why is it the one we're not complete and utter shite  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Ifollow too

Really is fucking typical.

#me too (I follow)

And back.

And gone again!

And back again

back on but picture quality poor

The real Wimbledon are beating Franchise too  :)

and no commentary

 :pint:

And back again!

I’m in, without paying 🤷‍♂️, now playing via the official Swindon app

We've had a goal disallowed?

Obviously not you. All these players bar Cotterill played last week and I think your take was along the lines of " a bunch of hoofers"

Have we?

Sure commentator just said?

Both wing backs with excellent deliveries today.

Glatzel header accross goal, good chance.

Cotterill looks a totally different player today.

Without Hall, Clarke and Smith we seem far more mobile all over the pitch.

4-0

Cotterill

My oh my

Glatz should have had the match ball there

He looked odds on to score, but last year we would have missed the rebound, so its all good!

Well this is going well.

Bycroft punch clear.

HT 4-0

What a nice change this is

Mark Kennedy’s Total Football.

The most I’ve enjoyed a Swindon game since the Walsall game under Garner. What a performance. Newport look hopeless but we look absolutely class going forward. The front two pairing already looks better in 45 minutes than Smith and Drinan.

Try watching Saints v Man Utd

Time to mention Smith, much more mobile and fluid up front in his absence.

Don’t wanna see any “where’s the haters now” because we’ve been poor this season, however can’t say i’m shocked at a performance like this.

Ok shoot me down but this is why I was so angry last week, I could see this coming. It's excellent, loving the fact that we are passing well but the defence is putting their boot through it when needed too. Excellent stuff.

100%. We’ve struck the right balance in that first half. Absolutely perfect. Played some beautiful stuff through them but knew when to lump it forward

Freckleton been impressive defensively, just needs to cut out the odd sloppy pass.

Massive improvement, kind of backs up the view that Smith is more of a hindrance than a help. Take him out of the equation along with the Clarke and Hall and suddenly we look fast and mobile on the pitch.

One more and I can relax

I think smith definitely has a place in this squad for certain moments and fixtures but we look so much more fluid without him

Why ??  You got it down for a 5 all draw ??.

😂😂😂😂

Crispy has us to win 6-0😁

Shit. Jephcott's on!

Only tuned in because of the bet. But tbf I'd had said it was typical anyway if I hadn't watched at all.

Remember Wrexham away? ;)

He hasn’t scored a league since leaving Swindon 😁

That can't be right, can it?

Glatz should have scored there.

Outstanding from Butterworth

2023–2024   St Johnstone   8   (0)
2024–   Newport County   19   (0)


Fucking hell. Thought he was better than that.

I can’t verify….

Looked decent at Plymouth.

Yes it is, I posted this up last week.

Ha,yeah. We weren't 5 up there tho!

👍

No but 5 goals and still didnt win....nightmares!

Genuinely thought he'd go on to do alright, but probably shouldn't think that of any one of that squad.

All the more reason to worry😉

6857 including 866 Newport.

Lowest so far and for quite a while on a Saturday I would imagine

When it’s STFC anything is possible :D

Decent following from them.

Nice cross by King but was too close to the goal, hits the bar.

We are keeping up the pressing too which we never did under Flynn when we were leading in games, dont sit back.

Ofobohr coming on. Who'd have thought.

Storm in an Irish teacup last week?

Good performance by Cotterill that.

Freckles has had a solid game too so far. Another good block that.

Lovely corner that, shame we couldnt get to it.

Ofoborh doing defensive midfield things, who would have thunk it!

Newport seem to have largely given up. They're doing the bare minimum.

Class so far. Way too good to be loanded out.

Drinan on for Tchimanga.

Reminds me a lot of Grant but with a bit more pace and younger.

That should have been 5 TBH.

I love that we dont fuck around at the back now and put the ball into touch under pressure instead of playing out of it.

Minturn caught in possession there but got away with it.

Good defending by King there to Bycroft.

King cleverly wins a free kick near the touchline 20 yards out.

Poor free kick by King straight into touch.

Glatzel held back but the ref gives them the free kick.

Take it back about Freckles. Really good today

Give McGurk some game time on for Butterworth, get him back in the fold.

Our best defender today for me.

Some lovely pressing by Town, great tackle by Drinan to win the ball.

That's our first 11 sorted then, only injuries or suspensions should change it.

Cannot fault any of them today at all. Best performance since December for me.

Hall, Clarke, Delaney and Smith would be a big chunk of the budget not playing and money usually plays.

But I think it'll be a question of playing the bigger lads against the more physical sides.

McGurk on for Butterworth.
Cain on for King.

Glatz misses a good chance, over the bar from 10 yards on the angle. Drinan did well to win that 1st ball.

I did alright with the attendance, but not the score  :D

FT 4-0

Not faultless but pretty damn close to it, great pressure and everyone played well really, no passengers today.

Very pleased we got that monkey off our back.

Best all round performance for 9 months for me.

Cotterill, Kilkenny, Freckles and Glatzel all played really well but nobody played badly.

We've not seen a game out this well for what seems like eons.

4-0 flatters Newport, utterly dominant

Pretty speechless at that.

Played well and enjoyed the win

Foot definitely off the pedal in the second half. Job done in the first. Could have added a couple more but hopefully that win gives us some much needed confidence.

Also hope it gives Kennedy some idea of what his best 11 is and also that lumping it to Smith isn't always a smart idea.

Was that Saturday Gigs by Mott the Hoople ringing out at the CG just now?

Nostalgia about great Staurdays seems spot on today.  :pint:

Lovely.

Brilliant all over the pitch.

Same team next week please  :pint:

Smith's probably best to be used as a kind of last roll of the dice sub, bring on the big man, hope he can get his head on it

And to add to it, the youths beat Poxford 3-1 away in the Youth Alliance Cup earlier too.

 I should stop watching matches and paying any attention to the score during the 90 mins  every week .

Relieved it seems there may be no further injuries to spoil a much better combination.

Cox maybe.
Hopefully taken off just as a precaution but saw him feeling back of the hamstring just after the 4th.

Credit where it's due. Kennedy obviously got that spot on. Round pegs in round holes, pacey passing football, good width, nice early crosses..

Playing more mobile strikers against a second string centre back pairing really paid off.

We looked good in the tackle too. Well up for it.

And I say this having only arrived at half time due to a hospital appointment.

One swallow does not a summer make. But it's shown us something good.

Now to follow that up.

. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7wUl-u-UAE&pp=ygUUc3dpbmRvbiA0IG5ld3BvcnR0IDA%3D
. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oijyYRLMcx0

I will continue to stay away then. Champions league will be ours in 5 years!!   :D :pint:

Mark and I were lonely........

Some real hope out there today. Couldn't fault them in the first half. Real promise from the midfield three. I really liked the look of Cox. Bring on next week.

You were both in my thoughts. Glad you saw us win well.

Of all the bloody games to miss, what a cracking result.

Prediction: we are currently sitting above Franchise - if we finish the season above them we get promoted. I’m hoping Barrow are keeping the third spot warm for us.

One Swallow, a summer does not make.

So, on one hand we need the points, min 50 but that keeps the shysters where they are.

On the other keep losing and occasionally drawing, or turning results like we have been before yesterday day then the pressure is on them to go.

Nice surprise yesterday but a long, long way to go.

Have listened to Mark Kennedy after the game interview and he does sound a very convincing fellow. In truth the game yesterday was a good result and taking away the shit show against Walsall and things would have been a lot more positive at STFC.
Would anyone agree with me that the current squad with Kennedy as manager is better in general than last years squad with Michael Flynn as manager ?

I'd say Mike Flynn is a better manager and was hamstrung by the purse strings

Unlike last week I thought Kennedy’s post match interview made a lot of sense.

I really hope we can at least kick on to some extent now. The fear and dread about the ownership situation it one thing, but the prospects of dropping out of the league all together is another level of depression.

Yep, first time I've ever agreed with something you have posted!!!!

Should I be worried or grateful???

. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GiFJh9UhvI

Awful Newport, half the squad injured and all that BUT the boys did good.

Should and could of had more but a different world away from the previous week.

Probably better to win 4 zip than 5:1.

I really hope that we can kick on now....players like McGurk back etc etc.

Monkey is off our back now and Kennedy must now know the best team by now.

Declan John also training with us.

Fucking hell, how many left backs do we need?

Good pedigree though. 7 Wales caps. 79 league one games under his belt.

That's crazy he hasn't signed for a club yet.

Was away at the weekend, so wasn't going to watch. In the end, I managed to carve out some time to watch the second half. Didn't look much different to previous weeks, it was just that Newport looked poor and gave us room up front and in midfield to get round them.

Interesting you should say that. I only saw the second half too (in the ground).

Obviously its only my opinion/maybe being there for the first time this season skewed things.

The things I thought were better than what I've seen v ifollow
  - playing it on the ground.
  - passing quickly and incisively
  - using width well then crossing in, much quicker in doing this.
  - front two had good movement and caused the oppo defense no end of issue
  - surprisingly combative in winning the ball back

It tailed off once the subs started of course. And the game was won so wasn't expecting them to go all guns blazing.

Have to admit the irony in a lot of us calling for experienced pro’s for a couple of years now and our best performance so far of the season coming when the 3 most experienced are taken out of the team.

All 3 still have big parts in this squad though and I don’t think it’s all or nothing with them. Saturday was a needed boost of confidence that we don’t have to run those 3 into the ground playing every minute and can be more selective with how we use them. In Hall/Clarke’s case, from the start we knew you wouldn’t want them to (nor would they be able to) start every match but there will be games where an Ollie Clarke in the midfield from the start or coming off the bench is useful. Likewise with Smith, we’ve got 4 strikers with different profiles and Smith’s profile will be needed in certain games and scenarios, it’s just about not resorting back to always launching the ball up to him when he’s in the side, he can play with his feet well enough to still play the football we played Saturday.

Cracking win and much needed.  Hopefully we can build on it next weekend at home to Carlisle.

Cox looked like he could be a very useful player.

1st half we totally dominated the game, especially after Sobo's early goal saving block, we played some very good expansive football, passing and pressing. 2nd half we took our foot off the gas a lot.

We tried to sign him on loan when he was at Swansea. Cant see us signing another LB though, pre game on Saturday Kennedy said we had several players on trial currently but had no intention of signing any of them....yet.

Looking to get some out on loan to free up wages?

suspect Uwakwe and Ofoborh would need to go out?

I like Cox...

Just realised that looks so much better written down than how it sounds when spoken out loud ;)

I thought Ofoborh looked exactly what we needed when he came on at the weekend, he was eager and all over the pitch and putting in tackles.

I am sure we would all put Cox in rather than Cox out.

I'd be more than happy for him to stay.

It's more what Kennedy would look to do to free up wages.

Absolutely, I just hope we keep him as he is an asset for sure and a decent player when played in the correct role, as he proved on Saturday.

I dont think we should underestimate Wright's role in a tighter looking defence. Dont forget he got promoted out of this division last year and I think he is the glue that holds it together

He is also a big asset with his long throws which give us a different attacking edge too.

Agree with that. His was a real captain's performance Saturday

Im getting a Greer vibe from him

Trying not to look back..
But thinking about what poor players STFC needed to play in the  last few season whether out of position or not.
Great improvement with this present squad.
Good blend of qualities. Young and experienced players.
No team will bully Town this year.

I haven't read back, so not sure if this has been mentioned. However, I found it funny that we have cried out for an experienced spine for so long, we get it with Hall, Clarke and Smith, but we looked so much better without any of them in the first 11.

I hate to be that guy…

…but…we’ve won once all season and all been out played & dominated by other teams.
We still have poor players but we definitely have better depth this season.

I really hope this is the proverbial kick start to our season & MKs reign, I really do…

Will Wright is fucking class - probably my new favourite player

Agreed, people over the pub that show an interest wanted to know if we played that well and my reply was that we were far, far better than the first home game and good to watch, but as to whether we had turned the corner was still up for grabs. Having the next game at home should be another pointer as to which way we are heading.

Besides Walsall who has dominated Town this season ?

New players being given time to get involved.

Fuck I hope I am right and this is the start of something good.

He didn'y say everyone has tbf just said been out played & dominated by other teams. which we have.

Over 90 minutes
What team (besides Walsall) have Swindon been outplayed and dominated by this season ?
Chesterfield No
Walsall Completely
Crewe No
Notts County No
Barrow No
Newport Co No

I also like Cox.

But I doubt Rosaire Longelo does. When he’s fit, can he play on the right, or has he got the Iandolos-single-foot-syndrome? If he can play there, then presumably we would go Longelo right, Cox left and have King push them both (also assuming Sobowale will now settle in a RCB, Wright at CB, and one of Miguel or Delaney at LCB).

True.

Probably true. But as we know 'dominating the ball' is only one stat in domination, though the early games were telling.

For example.

Chesterfield 64% possession- needed a worldy to grab point
Crawley 63% possession - we played ok for 25 minutes
Walsall 18 shots v our 7
Crewe - zero saves needed by their keeper
Norris c - we were unlucky, though they had 60% of the ball we did more with it
Exeter - stats are reasonably equal. But it felt like they were shaper when watching
Barrow - needed a last minute shot to grab point
Newport -they had 49% of the ball. Which is surprising. 14 shots to their 3!


Of the games so far Notts County is the only game I feel we can truly be annoyed about not getting the right result.

Thing is, we've changed style from that first game to now. In a good way. Acid test will be when Smith and Clarke are available

Here are the highlights of this game.

A couple of very good goals by Town lads here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srAHR_Tu2Y0

Fair comment but we were dead unlucky not to get to pens at Crawley I thought

Either way, if Notts County and Newport are the true direction of travel we'll be alright.

Too soon to tell. Though 13% of the season is gone already!