Swindon Town v Hartlepool United Official Matchday Thread

[Batch]

I think your'e reading too much into it.

Usually do!

[corner]

Well that was shit, we could not pass the ball, all we had was hoof fucking hoof, where's the football gone from last season? We clearly missed Hollands to link our defence to attack, ward won everything in the air at the back, we should be top of the league, why don't our wingers run up and down the wing get to the flag and put balls in? If we carry on playing like that we won't make play offs.

[LucienSanchez]

Our wingers ave never played like that under Paolo

[ronnie21]

Cannot agree that we totally dominated the match, I thought only one team played football in the second half and it wasn't the team in red.  We very quickly ran out of ideas and just kept tossing long balls up into the front two, who came up against a decent centre-back pairing.  Their goal came because of the business of pulling 11 men back into the box to defend every corner, we have no out ball, we are immediately under pressure, the ball gets lumped back in every time, a couple of bounces, a deflection and that cunt Monkhouse scores against again - and he hadn't been on the pitch very long either!!  Lovely goal by Ferry, well worked with Thompson and Roberts.

[Batch]

Our goal was down to some outstanding passing. Macca nearly replicated it with his run too.

But yes, we didn't control the (centre of) midfield enough for me, hence didn't string passes together. Hartlepool were strong and disruptive and  passed it OK themselves at times. Not forwards, but neatly enough.

If you look at Hartlepool's recent games they are harder to beat and have got a couple of good results. They are where they are because of early season dire straights.

[ibelieveinmrreeves]

Disappointed that Roberts doesn't have the extra dimension to be able to take the ball on his right - all his crosses were from very deep, on his left foot.

Think the 3 saves Flinders made were terrific, and Hartlepool seemed like a different side second half, very up for it. Think Collins should have gone though.

[joteddyred]

I didn't think Miller was great to be honest.  Would Pack be a direct replacement for him?

I agree with Ronnie about the whole team being back to defend a corner as well.  We do it every single time and it's completely unnecessary.  Not only is there nobody left outfield to pick the ball up, but the more players in the box, the more likely there is to be a deflection or foul.

Very frustrating, because it really was no surprise when the ball ended up in the back of our net.  

Disappointed that Roberts doesn't have the extra dimension to be able to take the ball on his right - all his crosses were from very deep, on his left foot.

Even though Roberts was good today, he's still a long way short of Ritchie, as is De Vita, who seems to struggle past around 70 minutes.  We definitely need to be looking to bring in another winger when this damn takeover goes through.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

It was frustrating that we didn't win today as it would have been brilliant to go top. Looking back at previous promotion/play off seasons, you always get results like this and it will happen to all the other top sides as well. I think of Doncaster at home (1-1) in 86-87 when we went up and I think they went down. More recently was Exeter at home (1-1) when we went to the Play Off Final and they just stayed up. Shit happens and at the end of the day, we've gained ground on the teams above us.

[Ticker45]

So disappointing that we played so much long ball on a pitch that was superior in every way to the ploughed fields of the away games, and the one time we do get the ball on the ground we tore them apart. Definitely missing a constructive ball player in midfield, not sure if Pack (if he ever arrives) will fill that bill and agree that we miss Hollands.

Always bugs me regarding our defence at corners. Leave two men out means that the opposition would require three to cover plus the corner taker that only gives six players to attack against eight defenders plus 'keeper. If we cannot handle that then they should not be playing professionally but the team obviously work to instructions.

I am sure that the sickness bug had some part to play as there were a few of them that looked jaded and not at all sharp but that might be me looking for excuses.

How is it opposition goalkeepers seem to save their best performances for when they play us as well?

 

[ghanimah]

Ah bollocks. I guess the talk with the new owners didn't go well then. Humph.

Paolo likes playing games, don't think he would ever give a definite yay or nay even if all was rosy in the boardroom.

[chalkies_shorts]

Well that was all a bit flat - both the fans and the players. Standount performers for me were Ferry and Nathan. Fair play to Hartlepool who rode their luck, played the ball around really well and looked a hell of a lot better than a lot of other sides down here that season.
Couldn;t really give a fuck that it was Monkhouse who scored for them. Likewise thier keeper at the end. goalkeeper in time wasting shocker and I'd like to think Fods would have done pretty much the same.
Williams really is an enigma. He's got pace and control but there are games where he works hard but wouldn;t score in a million years - this was one of them. Rooney looked good then faded. Collins looked so far off the pace he looked as though he'd quaffed a few beforehand.
Roberts played better than normal but he was nowhere near MOM. His decision making really is crap although he did well for the goal.
All in all disapointing but we're 1 point off the top and the Scummers lost.

[Arriba]

Paolo likes playing games, don't think he would ever give a definite yay or nay even if all was rosy in the boardroom.

No he doesn't. biggest load of rubbish said about the bloke.
He says how he feels at the time. No mind games-no agenda etc,etc.....

[Abrahammer]

One of those days.  If it wasn't for Flinders making a couple of world class saves we would have gone on the win by 4 or 5.

Everyone was pretty average with the exception of  Thompson was by far and away our best player, there are signs of a decent understanding with Roberts.

Fair play to Hartlepool for keep it on the deck and play some nice stuff. The boy Walton was pinging long accurate passes all game

Our goal was almost orgasmic

[ghanimah]

No he doesn't. biggest load of rubbish said about the bloke.
He says how he feels at the time. No mind games-no agenda etc,etc.....

I would disagree, there's method in his madness...there's a ruthless calculating chap that lies underneath.

[Costanza]

We looked tired today so I'm glad we've got next weekend off.

Over a week now to sort the takeover out, hopefully bring in some players and prepare for Tranmere.