Franchise v Swindon Town Matchday thread

[Stef Troll]

Stefftroll's post was perhaps necessary to balance the weight of adverse criticism heaped on Clem.

It was not however in any way balanced in itself.  Perhaps if Clem had epitomised the transparency he heralded and fronted up when the financial difficulties emerged he would have been more widely admired.

I have always said it's how owners leave clubs that is the time to judge.  Not how they "saved" us when joining. We shall have to see. 

If Clem left today I would judge his ownership to be a success. He took us over when we were in a complete mess. We over achieved in our first season under his ownership. Nobody realistically thought we would get into the playoffs. We played good football at times.

Last season Lyndsey did ok but fans didn’t warm to him. Clem took a gamble on Morris (I think most fans were happy Lyndsey left and were excited we appointed a potential up and coming manager). Unfortunately that didn’t work and now we are with Flynn.

Ultimately Swindon have to live within their means. The majority of football clubs are loss making. Would much prefer to support a stable run club then end up like Bury, Scunthorpe, Oldham, Southend who either don’t exist or are non league sides.  Swindon are a league 1/2 club at best. Our dream is to aspire to be like Luton or Brentford but that is very difficult to do.

[Legends-Lounge]

It’s bloody hard, 120 mile round home trips and the away trips get tougher particularly driving and getting older.
My Eldest at Uni thus not sure if that’s a blessing (for him) or a downer for me as I miss going with him.
Driving to Harrogate, rallying a few troops but it’s getting tougher.

I’m up in Bradford for two weeks induction and training from the 6th. If it was one week later I’d stay the Friday night under my own steam and go to Harrogate on the Saturday. Sham, though you never know how things pan out.

[Trashbat?]

If this squad is living within our means then we are done for. Flynn is getting the best out of a tiny squad, a lot of other managers would have us stuck in a relegation fight right now.

If this is the future of the club then we won’t be far off those clubs you mentioned soon.

[Cowley38]

If Clem left today I would judge his ownership to be a success. He took us over when we were in a complete mess. We over achieved in our first season under his ownership. Nobody realistically thought we would get into the playoffs. We played good football at times.

Last season Lyndsey did ok but fans didn’t warm to him. Clem took a gamble on Morris (I think most fans were happy Lyndsey left and were excited we appointed a potential up and coming manager). Unfortunately that didn’t work and now we are with Flynn.

Ultimately Swindon have to live within their means. The majority of football clubs are loss making. Would much prefer to support a stable run club then end up like Bury, Scunthorpe, Oldham, Southend who either don’t exist or are non league sides.  Swindon are a league 1/2 club at best. Our dream is to aspire to be like Luton or Brentford but that is very difficult to do.

Are we a stable and well run though?

[UTR]

It's not though is it, have we had the same manager in back to back seasons? Hope this might happen this year into next.

It is. Garner season “hopefully we can push on and challenge next season”, Lindsey season “hope we can push to challenge next season” (this one was being peddled out as early as October) and now this season we’re already seeing “hope we can push onto challenge next season”.

I appreciate the churn of manager factor but that doesn’t change that we’ve been saying that line to ourselves in straw clutching hope for a good few years now.

Other than a fluke season, it won’t change until we’re setup properly behind the scenes to sustain a promotion challenge.

[Pericardinho]

If Clem left today I would judge his ownership to be a success. He took us over when we were in a complete mess. We over achieved in our first season under his ownership. Nobody realistically thought we would get into the playoffs. We played good football at times.

Last season Lyndsey did ok but fans didn’t warm to him. Clem took a gamble on Morris (I think most fans were happy Lyndsey left and were excited we appointed a potential up and coming manager). Unfortunately that didn’t work and now we are with Flynn.

Ultimately Swindon have to live within their means. The majority of football clubs are loss making. Would much prefer to support a stable run club then end up like Bury, Scunthorpe, Oldham, Southend who either don’t exist or are non league sides.  Swindon are a league 1/2 club at best. Our dream is to aspire to be like Luton or Brentford but that is very difficult to do.

Yes but people act like Clem was the only option and that he saved us.

Able had an offer on the table but everybody was worried it would be too dodgy given they were recommended by Power. Quite ironic really when you consider all the skeletons are still around anyway just with a new face to front it. I do find myself asking how it would’ve planned out if Power got his way.

I don’t want to be a sustainable club if it means having a Crewe/Harrogate/Sutton type budget. There’s got to be some middle ground. Nobody is expecting us to compete with the likes of Wrexham in the market but I don’t think a top 7 budget is too much to ask.

Clem must’ve been expecting to budget for 6k crowds when he came in so he can consider himself extremely fortunate at the ‘extra’ income he’s received. Yet still we struggle. At what point does this get better? I can only see it getting worse.

Lots of out of contract players next season. A complete rebuild with a bottom half budget. I don’t wish to scare anybody but relegation to the 5th tier if everything goes south isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

[Wobbly Bob]

I kind of skim watching it as had friends round.

I didn't think it looked that bad from what I saw. Obviously a false impression reading on here and Flynn's summary post match (thanks nmh).

I've seen worse.
Our play when in possession wasn't that bad, just a bit slow & lacking incisiveness.
Badly missed Kemp yesterday.
Hopefully not a glimpse into what the 2nd half of the season will be like.

[STFC_Manc]

It is. Garner season “hopefully we can push on and challenge next season”, Lindsey season “hope we can push to challenge next season” (this one was being peddled out as early as October) and now this season we’re already seeing “hope we can push onto challenge next season”.

I appreciate the churn of manager factor but that doesn’t change that we’ve been saying that line to ourselves in straw clutching hope for a good few years now.

Other than a fluke season, it won’t change until we’re setup properly behind the scenes to sustain a promotion challenge.

Thats the problem though, managers have left, so it's never actually been tested, which was my whole point.

[STFC_Manc]

Yes but people act like Clem was the only option and that he saved us.

Able had an offer on the table but everybody was worried it would be too dodgy given they were recommended by Power. Quite ironic really when you consider all the skeletons are still around anyway just with a new face to front it. I do find myself asking how it would’ve planned out if Power got his way.

I don’t want to be a sustainable club if it means having a Crewe/Harrogate/Sutton type budget. There’s got to be some middle ground. Nobody is expecting us to compete with the likes of Wrexham in the market but I don’t think a top 7 budget is too much to ask.

Clem must’ve been expecting to budget for 6k crowds when he came in so he can consider himself extremely fortunate at the ‘extra’ income he’s received. Yet still we struggle. At what point does this get better? I can only see it getting worse.

Lots of out of contract players next season. A complete rebuild with a bottom half budget. I don’t wish to scare anybody but relegation to the 5th tier if everything goes south isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

What a ridiculous post

[ThreeDrawsMentality]

Yes but people act like Clem was the only option and that he saved us.

Able had an offer on the table but everybody was worried it would be too dodgy given they were recommended by Power. Quite ironic really when you consider all the skeletons are still around anyway just with a new face to front it. I do find myself asking how it would’ve planned out if Power got his way.

I think the reason Power was so keen on Able offer was because he knew that the game was 'up' soon, had a large £7mn offer on the table and knew that legally he'd be entitled to the lot of it. Pre-emption rights really kicked that Able possibility to the bin.

[Trashbat?]

Thats the problem though, managers have left, so it's never actually been tested, which was my whole point.

Good job we have built a squad last summer with players on longer contracts to help Flynn achieve it next year…

[STFC_Manc]

Good job we have built a squad last summer with players on longer contracts to help Flynn achieve it next year…

Let's see what happens...

[Audrey]

I think we need to revisit the ‘facts’ of the non offer from the mythical Able. Power’s sole intention was to put the club into admin so he could get rid of his debt to Standing. Sheridactyl was appointed to ensure relegation to make the club unattractive to any other prospective purchaser bar Able.

God knows where we would be now if we’d gone into Admin. Clem saving us from that fate doesn’t absolve him from what is going on now.

[Pericardinho]

What a ridiculous post

Care to explain what you disagree with?

[Peter Venkman]

Might have a squad the combined age of 25 though

Fuck off, of course we have a squad of 25 players, admittedly 9 of them are 16 year olds