Thetownend.com

We're ten games in now, and I thought I'd use Rich Banyard's wonderful site to see where we were after ten games in the last ten seasons, to see if there's STFC evidence to support the Bristol Rovers/Donny slow start late charge thing that is oft quoted.

2023/24
Ten games in: 6th
Finished: 19th (-13)

2022/23
Ten games in: 8th
Finished: 10th (-2)

2021/22
Ten games in: 5th
Finished: 6th (-1)

2020/21 (L1)
Ten games in: 20th
Finished: 23rd (-3)

2019/20
Ten games in: 4th
Finished: 1st (PPG) (+3)

2018/19
Ten games in: 9th
Finished: 13th (-4)

2017/18
Ten games in: 7th
Finished: 9th (-2)

2016/17 (L1)
Ten games in: 18th
Finished: 22nd (-4)

2015/16 (L1)
Ten games in: 14th
Finished: 15th (-1)

2014/15 (L1)
Ten games in: 2nd
Finished: 4th (-2)


So in ten years we've moved more than four positions in either direction after ten games once (last season, when we bombed) and we've moved UP only once, and only by three spots, which was the Wellens PPG season.

It's pretty grim reading. Good thing our manager isn't a data guy or this would get him down!

The good data news is recently we've averaged 1ppg. So we are on track for 44 points. Which wouldn't take a significant shift to be definitely safe.

Oh wait, that's not really good.

It's been like a roller coaster ride really. And by that I mean one where you are sat like a lemon in the 'station' in a broken carriage watching everyone else in the park having loads of fun. I guess all it takes to get it working is for the operators to 'change their mindsets'

Kennedy's win % is now 8.3, which is the same that he achieved at Macclesfield.

Consistent. What more do you want.
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This is going to sound silly, but I think we are going to beat Cheltenham.

I know. I know

Kennedys needs us to!

Good Monday night panel last night. Few spoke very well - especially the panel member Mark who was very damning of Kennedy. Can really see the hurt and pain amongst fans who go every week. The hardcore aren’t putting up with it anymore

2011/12 (L2)
After 10 games: 10th
Finished as Champions (+10)

…..aaaaw the Di Canio days

It was Di Canios approach that started the decline...

It was Di Canios approach that got us promoted.

Even my Mother could have got us promoted with the money he spent and wasted!!

Started the decline? That was the mid 90s

https://x.com/TownEndersSTFC/status/1843354653280612828

Clearly I was being too optimistic!

I misread that original and thought it had us finishing 23rd!

28% chance of going down... Yikes

If it was that easy the team with the biggest budget would win the league ever year.
That doesn’t happen.

At least we'd of been starting our decline from the Championship.

Also blaming a manager for this is nonsense. He has no power to set playing budgets.

Redknapp gets tarnished with this as well. People think these managers are playing Football manager and can sign off players coming in.

If the Chairman was influenced by Di Canio and as a result spent too much, that's entirely on him. Maybe grow a backbone.

Similar under Macari in 85, after 8 games we were in 21st place with just 7 points with 2 wins and 5 defeats and a goal difference of -8 yet won the league with the record points total at the time of 102.

That is not going to happen this season though.

Had a look at our relegations in 46 game seasons with 3 points for a win.
Points and position after 10 games and final position.
Nothing conclusive other than a similar points total has seen us finish in the bottom two twice, so 2 down is no guarantee of a safety net.

Added the promotions for comparison & mainly to be reminded of better times.

1981/82 - 20pts (1st). Finished 22nd.
1994/95 - 17pts (5th). Finished 21st.
1999/00 - 8pts (21st). Finished 24th.
2005/06 - 7pts (23rd). Finished 23rd.
2010/11 - 12pts (16th). Finished 24th.
2016/17 - 11pts (18th). Finished 22nd.
2020/21 - 10pts (20th). Finished 23rd.
2024/25 - 8pts (21st). Finished ??.

1985/86 - 13pts (14th). Finished 1st.
1986/87 - 17pts (9th). Finished 3rd.
1989/90 - 13pts (14th). Finished 4th.
1992/93 - 18pts (4th). Finished 5th.
1995/96 - 23pts (1st). Finished 1st.
2006/07 - 22pts (4th). Finished 3rd.
2011/12 - 15pts (10th). Finished 1st.
2019/20 - 20pts (4th). In 2nd after 36 games.

Andrew Black did grow a backbone, and here we are..

He did more than that though.

He did actually

Black left Wray in charge who idolised Di Canio

Di Canio got exactly what he wanted until Black put a block on it. He wasn't a football man and trusted Wray as a lot of company owners do.

He had already warned Wray and Di Canio several times, Di Canio wanted 3 more playing in an already bloated squad - And acted.

Ridiculous statement.  Salford have been putting that sort of money in every year and even Wellens couldn't get them promoted.

Correct, no power to set them.

He has the power to not blow the budget by January though

Who appointed Jeremy Wray at the time

There's no way you can spin this and it not be the owner / chairmans fault. Di Canio can't write the cheques.

£6m budget in 2011/12

Wonder what equates to nowadays

With a squad of 25 professionals they'd have to have averaged 4.6k a week in wages. All of them.

That must be nonsense.

Clarke was meant to be on 8 I think.

And the squad ended up with far more than 25 when you consider the players Di Canio bombed out.

I still think 6m in 2011 is a massive ask

I'm not saying not possible. Just find it hard to believe.

Suspect that may have been total budget including transfer fees, of which we paid a few.

I didn't account for transfer fees so that would make more sense.

Either way, it was fun throwing some cash around and actually acting like a big fish at that level.

It was, and other fans absolutely hated us for it, which was amusing. I guess that's how Wrexham fans feel currently.