Swindon Town vs Crewe Alexandra prematch and match day thread.

[Jimmy Quinn]

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.

Always nice to see the facial expression
 

[Batch]

was so impressed with us for about 60 minutes. So dominant with great build up play. only real criticism was we didn't create many clear cut chances other than the goals - a few scuffs and half chances.

Crewe definitely in the ascendancy from that point as they started to look dangerous. Very soft first goal, good cross for second

obviously Austin should bury that chance and we win. But in a way it would make what happened where we didn't adapt to Crewe.

still, it's a point and as I said before, this squad is effectively doing now what it should have done in the preseason. we will get better.

ps. you could certainly tell Uwekwe hasn't had a preseason. very poor

[Outletred]

We still need 3 players

A lump up front
Tough tackling midfielder
Commanding CB

This is if we want a promotion

[dogs]

We still need 3 players

A lump up front
Tough tackling midfielder
Commanding CB

This is if we want a promotion

Yep, spot on.

[theakston2k]

We still need 3 players

A lump up front
Tough tackling midfielder
Commanding CB

This is if we want a promotion

Would also add another keeper who will challenge for a starting spot as still think it will prove to be a problem when teams latch on to how small Mahoney is and that he won’t come off his line for high balls. He will get targeted at some point.

[Batch]

Mahoney is very good with the ball at his feet.

poor first goal to concede. Good stop in second half though.

not sure how well do over the course of the season, but the issue is Ward seems to be plan b - and he's not good with the ball at his feet

[Jimmy Quinn]

Maybe try Ward in has favoured position otherwise seems a pointless loan signing when we could have kept Minturn.

[Audrey]

Just back. Weirdly enjoyed most of that. Far more positives than negatives. Brewitt my MoM, followed by Khan.

Worst thing was taking notice of Batch re balti pie. Had one, feel sick.

[Mooneyraker]

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.

Did Brewitt make a mistake today? He was my MOTM overall. UGM partially culpable for the mess at the back stick for their second just nudges him down the rankings.

[Pericardinho]

Crewe drew 2-2 with Mansfield and beat Sunderland. Although a small budget and not fancied by many, clearly no mugs.

Blocked a lot of shots today and cleared their lines well.

Nevitt up front, we couldn't handle him and Long fed off that.

Once they figured out how to progress up the pitch, we looked stretched at times.

I think we'll play worse teams than Crewe.

[Cowley38]

Thoughts on today....Same old Swindon  really good first half should have killed Crewe off.

After the goal in the 2nd half we forgot all the good things we did in the 1st half.....

A case of throwing away 2pts rather than gaining 1.

Lots of positives though.

Looking comfortable at the back most of the game.
Passing game but more adventurous and positive.
Malife is a cracking signing
With a few more games Young and Uwakwe look will be more than useful


On the negative
Ward looks out of his depth
Austin wasn't on it looked tired

[LucienSanchez]

Thoughts:

I liked our back three, all of them look to play football but can get stuck in. I liked “Dokes” and FBT filling in at FB or CM if required

Mahoney made some good stops, not sure he had a chance with the goal as it was through bodies, right in the corner - will need to see it back

Hutton did nothing much except not follow his man for their second, like multiple times last season

Ward was unfit and not a LWB. Uwekwe was pretty poor when he came on though

Young looked handy, better than Wakeling

Austin just didn’t look up to it. Missed a sitter, caught in possession, poor first touch

McEachran was steady and kept things ticking over, while Khan was a bit more dynamic and available.

Kemp looks a player.

[Mooneyraker]

Thoughts overall:

The "style" was so much more enjoyable to watch than the recent years of tippy tappy shite. Purposeful, aggressive and, for the large part, well organised. Formation broadly worked well. Fitness looked a bit of an issue. Worrying with the quick turnaround. We need bodies in through the door ASAP.

Mahoney - Looks more than adequate. Possibly marginally at fault for the first goal but a brilliant save from a free kick later in the game.

UGM - Looked a great acquisition. Concerned that we have nothing like him on the bench for when he is injured/suspended.

Brewitt - Probably his best performance in a Swindon shirt. One brilliant last ditch tackle and loads of other good work. If he can keep it up his extension will have been great business. Will eventually score from a corner! MOTM.

FBT - Classic FBT. Does all the rough stuff but elegant going forward.

Hutton - Love that he always tries to beat the man but his crossing was a bit off today. As ever, got caught napping at the back post for their second. He really needs to learn to switch on. Major flaw in his make up.

Ward - Looked miles off it.

Khan - Much improved on last season. Good energetic performance and didn't get dragged into any bullshit.

McEachran - Broke up play well, tidy but I'm still not sure what sort of midfielder he is... Been given the #6 but is neither one thing nor the other for me, although he was still a solid 7/10 today.

Kemp - There's a player there but he struggled today I felt. A few good early moments but plenty of room for improvement. Got bullied a bit.

Austin - His worst game in a Swindon shirt? Absolutely miles off it. Consoling myself that the Rochdale away performance was only a few months ago and this was a rare blip... Saved from any stick from the crowd by past services rendered but this was Dossevi/Pericard level and I love the bloke.

Wakeling - Never really in it.

Subs:

Young - Thunderbolt but then nothing. Looks a bit overweight. Not sure quite what sort of forward he is... Didn't offer the running we needed.

Uwakwe - Let's hope he improves...

Kinsella - Tidy, fine.


Overall:

Loads of promising stuff but we faded. Felt Flynn should have turned to the bench earlier in the second half for midfield changes. We really missed the running of RHM up front. We need another one of those in the squad. Walcott please ( ). Definitely much better than I could have hoped 3 weeks ago. Plenty to build on.

Also nice to see everyone running to the bench for the second goal. Morale/togetherness looks good.

[I JBZelieve We Will Win]

Good first half. Disappointed that we could not hold on to the win.

[Nomoreheroes]

Did Brewitt make a mistake today? He was my MOTM overall. UGM partially culpable for the mess at the back stick for their second just nudges him down the rankings.

I thought he got caught out of position a couple of times. He got skinned for his yellow and I thought (but need to watch it again) that he could have done better for at least one of the goals.