Swindon Town vs Crewe Alexandra prematch and match day thread.

[doomster]

First half was really positive but basically went down to nine men when Tariq Uwakwe came on.  He was shocking and did his best to help his old mates.  At full time first thing he did was went to hug them.  He should be nowhere near the football pitch.  He claims he can play in many positions I’d have him selling burgers.

[welshred]

Gutted with that because we were absolutely cruising for 60 minutes then they score a stupid goal where we didn’t close down and their tails are up. We stopped doing all the good work we were doing in the first half.

Young scored a cracker out of nothing but offered zilch afterwards. Austin way off it and how he missed that chance I’ll never know. I think we’re missing another option up front, still concerned about LWB as Uwakwe didn’t bring much and gave the ball away too often. Wouldn’t say no to a commanding centre half although I thought Brewitt was excellent. FBT very good too, as was GMac. Keep faded quite badly. Missed RHM.

[4D]

Uwakwe, oh dear 

[RobertT]

We should have shut up shop, we didn't. From a side with zero shots on target Crewe came back into that far too easily. Could see that coming a mile off 2nd half.

Which is still something completely missing from our squad - the type of players with the nous between the ears to know when it's time to become disruptive, to calm it down or to get stuck in - knowing, based on having been there and done it, when to change the game essentially.  Right down the middle.

[UTR]

Obvious statement but Austin really has to be finishing chances like that at 2-1 if he’s going to be our main man up front

[Nomoreheroes]

Flynn:
- Goals change games
- Austin scores. 3-1 up and its game over
- Unbelievable passages of play
- Conceeded 2 poor goals
- Only thing we didnt do in first 50 mins was score more
- Got too open after that
- Needed to slow the game down, but not by time wasting
- Played into their hands
- Lot to ask for midfielders and strikers to keep pressing.
- Need to have some nouse
- McEachran was still a bit ill
- Wont get too dispondent on the result
- They know Flynn's thoughts about the goals.
- More to work on
- Debut goals for Godwin and Young. Young could have had another
- There are things to learn
- Its frustrating but a lot of positives
- Coaches were shouting on to manage the game
- On the whole, the team were very good
- Their second goal was unacceptable. Mahoney just didnt see the first
- Reality is we have things to work on
- Ward to Uwekwe: Ben had back spasm. Uwekwe hasnt had a preseason
- Could only get 75 out of McEachran because of illness
- There was a lot not given by the referee
- Things Flynn can worry about is how to kill teams off and not concede goals
- RHM: Bit of swelling. Not far off. Didnt want to risk him
- Trying to do 1 or 2 more signings. See what happens in the next week or two.

[RobertT]

I was trying to think of three players who we have had at this level before that would be the ones I am thinking of to add to this squad and give us what we still seem to be missing.  Struggling because we've had some pretty mediocre talent at the back!

I'm thinking something like Greer, Grant and Simpson down the spine.  Two gnarly been three and know how to win ugly types or marshal those around them, plus a physical beast up top to push defenders around a bit.  Add those three to this team and I think it performs at a much higher level.  I guess Greer is asking a bit much, but L2 version of him please.

[McGurk's Missus]

It's peak Town to be two up and consolidate with a draw, rather than sealing the deal with a third

Could be a long frustrating season. There's some quality in several of the new recruits but it's a much of a muchness at present time of writing. You just don't squander a two goal lead - unless it's Town

Austin probably needs reminding that he's not just here to play the background and pick up coaching badges before he retires; he'll know that as well. A Charlie Austin at the top of his game [even now] galvanises a team and he will score. I'd still give the armband to either FBT or Kinsella though as I don't think Austin needs that official responsibility. Unless you make him Club Captain but someone else needs to be Team Captain

A lot of indiscipline in the latter stages. Yet again it's game management costing Town a certain three points. That will feel like a win for Crewe

There's some decent shoots of positivity and hopefully Town build on those, if they don't it could be yet another middling season in League Two 

Oh well, time for a pint 

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

I was trying to think of three players who we have had at this level before that would be the ones I am thinking of to add to this squad and give us what we still seem to be missing.  Struggling because we've had some pretty mediocre talent at the back!

I'm thinking something like Greer, Grant and Simpson down the spine.  Two gnarly been three and know how to win ugly types or marshal those around them, plus a physical beast up top to push defenders around a bit.  Add those three to this team and I think it performs at a much higher level.  I guess Greer is asking a bit much, but L2 version of him please.

Maybe I wasnt paying attention but I don't remember Simpson ever pushing anyone around...

[RobertT]

Maybe I wasnt paying attention but I don't remember Simpson ever pushing anyone around...

The threat of him doing so carries just as much weight.  None of our top four look like they will give you a fight.  They have their plus sides of course, just not that.  Presence is what I am talking about.

[Nomoreheroes]

Fjortoft:
- There are ways to manage the game
- Play it to a forward to hold up for example
- Its about adaptability
- Great to see how they applied themselves in the first half, but when Crewe grew into the game the players need to adapt
- Need some different type signings in order to be able to adapt
- There are still tendencies from last season. There are the same type of players here. We need to give it time. If they could play like they did in the first half it would be great. But that takes a lot of energy and squad input

[Nomoreheroes]

My thoughts:

Mahoney – One great save and looked comfortable on the ball
Hutton – Lots of crosses. None accurate
FBT – Same as last year
Brewitt – Played well but always has a mistake in him
Godwin – Great first half but tired in the second
Ward – Way off the pace
Khan – Very good first half, but tired and ran into trouble too much in the second
Kemp – Busy. No shooting boots
McEachran – Industrious.
Wakeling – Tried hard but seemed off the pace to me
Austin –Kept dropping deep. Tried too many clever things and didn’t hit the net when he got a shooting chance and a header

Subs:
Young – Great turn and shot. Bullied defenders without giving away freekicks, but didn’t do enough for me
Uwakwe – Thought he was off the pace but in a different way to Ward
Kinsella – Tidy.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

The threat of him doing so carries just as much weight.  None of our top four look like they will give you a fight.  They have their plus sides of course, just not that.  Presence is what I am talking about.

I agree with your overall point 100%...Simpson's a bad example though in my opinion...

[RobertT]

I am working, or was trying to, with the limitations of players we have had down here.  We've had a lot of Austin types, but they've had more around them.  With what we have, we really do just need a big unit, but one who can get around a bit.

[Jimmy Quinn]

I agree with your overall point 100%...Simpson's a bad example though in my opinion...

We need a big nasty bastard up front to mix things up😆