Swindon Town V Salford City Official Matchday Thread

[UTR]

Definitely better since before Christmas. We know this season is gone realistically and the best we can hope for is to build momentum for next year.

The good components of this team look fine but as a unit they will get up to speed just in time for that late run at the end of the season where they can put themselves into the shop window for the summer.

This “mini pre season” is only beneficial to us if we keep the good components and momentum into next season. Very early days on the new players but McKirdy, Elbouzedi and Devoy will go back to their parent clubs, McCarthy is the big one to try to keep but with a year left on his contract at Barnsley it’ll be a tough ask to sort that permanently, if he keeps up form then he’s easily good enough for a club with better finances than us.

[Bob1978]

No chance with McCarthy staying beyond this season

[Batch]

thought that was very Flynn like but in reverse. first half was shit bar 10 minutes, second half was better but ... injury time again.

sigh

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

I still think they'll go up.

Either way, it looks like the plan is to write this season off, avoid relegation and have a proper go next year.

Forest Green lost, so that's a point nearer safety.

I struggle to believe that we have any plan whatsoever...

[Berniman]

It still does not look like a team that would compete for the top three or four spaces in the league to me.  That remains, regardless of whether we played OK in that second, well below the expectations we should have for the club.  It's League Two, Division Four.

We avoid getting a win today because of the very obvious thing we have been missing all season - defenders who like to defend (I do believe we have improved by getting McCarthy), a midfield that has no desire to defend and a complete lack of game management experience.  The chart Russell showed gave a very visual description of why that may be - we have signed an entire team of youngsters/novices.  It means we can play sort of well but still fuck it up.

Of the newbies, McKirdy is a lite version of his previous self - hopefully he gets back up to speed.

Drinnan looks average to poor, assumed he'd be a rotation player with Austin so no idea why we had both on together.

Devoy is not the answer, regardless of the question.

Glatzel seems OK - nice touches, but gets beaten off the ball a fair bit.

Elbouzedi - seems a threat, not sure why he was taken off if being replaced unless you bring someone on like him to add fresh legs.  Quality not great, but pace can be a threat at this level (wouldn't have him and RHM on together though).

Overall, second half was better, we should have won, but that's what you get with what we have.

Agreed

[Batch]

Either way, it looks like the plan is to write this season off, avoid relegation and have a proper go next year.
.

as a matter of interest, what makes you think we will have a go next season rather than repeat this one?

[FormerlyPlymRed]

First 20 mins we looked a mess, Salford were the better team although didn't create anything of note. After the first 20 we then stepped it up and had a few decent moves up until half time.

Personally, I quite enjoyed that second half. We played much better and should have won the game. The intensity in the attack was good, we played some good stuff and had some great chances. Two great saves by their keeper and one off the line before McEachran scored. We could (should) have been a few goals up.

Also thought the atmosphere second half was one of the best it's been for a while.

Then we shoot ourselves in the foot. The short corner routine that led to us going all the way back to Bycroft and him having to smash it into the stands gave them all the momentum - stupid decision.

Of course there is lot's of shit off the pitch but I thought there were some half-decent performances out there from quite a few of the new players and I've left that game having actually enjoyed it, which hasn't happened in a while.

[Batch]

well the post match interview is taking a while . gunning must be throwing the Guinness glasses

[Berniman]

as a matter of interest, what makes you think we will have a go next season rather than repeat this one?

I was thinking exactly the same, nothing that we have seen indicates that we intend to "go for it" next season

[Freeloader]

Gav's Hair Dryer is set on high.  

[Uncletrunx]

as a matter of interest, what makes you think we will have a go next season rather than repeat this one?

1) The permanent signings during the January window.

2) The same stupid and unrealistic sense of optimism that I've had since 1994.

[4D]

Getting called out on FB to be more supportive,  dozy cunts. Probably one of the thousands of silent fuckwits who don't support at all. Cunt, say that to my face.

[Nomoreheroes]

Gunning:
- Have you seen a performance like that this year?
- We obviously conceded at the end
- Their keeper had a great tgame
- A Salford team in good form
- Anyone who watched that knows we battered them
- We were decent in the first half. Should have scored a couple
- They didnt know how to deal with our game plan
- Its frustrating. Its been doom and gloom for too long here
- We've started to play well again.
- Its been a mad game. Robinson was very complimentary after the game. But they know they have stolen a point
- Maybe we should have put that corner into the box
- Its all learning.
- Had to be careful and manipulate minutes
- Boys have done unbelievably today
- We have not managed the situation well enough
- We have given the players the freedom to express themselves
- McEachran is a good player. He fell out of form. Maybe it was fatigue.
- Standard in training has been fantastic
- We need to get fitter to play the style Gunning wants to play
- There can be a bounce factor in this game. You can get lulled into a false sense of security
- Apart from 20 mins, the performances have been great since Gunning came in
- Would like to play the same team on Tuesday, but have to manage players minutes

[Audrey]

Just back. I enjoyed that second half - played some good stuff. Like the look of Austin/Drinnan as a pair or maybe Drinnan/Glatzel. It’s so obvious we lack physicality in midfield it beggars belief it hasn’t been addressed.

I know Devoy got some pelters at half time but he was much improved second half. If we had had McCarthy from the get go this season we’d be well up the table. That one off the line looked over to me but may be wrong.

Don’t think I remember Bycroft having to make a save all game. Shame we couldn’t stuff one up that fat scouser’s arse.

[Audrey]

Walking to the CG from The Merlin there was some oaf driving a van, window down, elbow resting, quaffing a bottle of Heineken. Fucking plum.