Swindon Town v Bromley matchday thread

[Freeloader]

We were bottom of the league playing some of the worst football in our history back then so I think that was a fair assumption to make. Kudos to Holloway for getting a tune out of this squad I'll give him respect for that. The reality is this will still be our 3rd or 4th worst ever finish.

Of course we don’t know what a full season under Holloway would have looked like, we'll find that out next season but we are going to end up about 10 points off the top 7 come the end of the season which will be about the same size gap points wise as when Holloway was appointed. Donny showed last season if you are good enough then you will reach the playoffs, we've never looked like making it, every time we looked like having a sniff we slipped up like away at Harrogate, Morecambe and yesterday.

We just weren't good enough for anything other than mid table, whether it's the defence, midfield or the way we play we concede too many goals. We were a couple of players away from being true Playoff contenders.

The Easter Monday game showed where we are - especially not strong enough in defence, which has had too much chopping and changing due to injuries etc.  We can't expect to outscore the oposition almost every game, and play out so many draws, and expect to win promotion.  We can't afford lose points to the likes of Morecambe, Harrogate, Carlisle or Bromley, limited but effective in some or most games. 

[DV]

The Easter Monday game showed where we are - especially not strong enough in defence, which has had too much chopping and changing due to injuries etc.  We can't expect to outscore the oposition almost every game, and play out so many draws, and expect to win promotion.  We can't afford lose points to the likes of Morecambe, Harrogate, Carlisle or Bromley, limited but effective in some or most games.  

Don’t deny that…but…I bet the likes of Doncaster, Port Vale, Bradford, Walsall, Notts County, Wimbledon etc have all had games like that.

Games where either their attackers haven’t had their shooting boots on or the defenders have made cock ups or they’ve been robbed by officials or just plain played badly in a game they were expected to win.

Those traits aren’t specific to us (I imagine - I haven’t checked)

[DV]

After a quick 2 minute look only at Doncaster - they’ve lost to Bromley twice, Harrogate once & drawn with Carlisle.

[Freeloader]

Don’t deny that…but…I bet the likes of Doncaster, Port Vale, Bradford, Walsall, Notts County, Wimbledon etc have all had games like that.

Games where either their attackers haven’t had their shooting boots on or the defenders have made cock ups or they’ve been robbed by officials or just plain played badly in a game they were expected to win.

Those traits aren’t specific to us (I imagine - I haven’t checked)

Typical League 2, none of those teams have run away with promotion and all have lost at least 9 games so far.   If in League 2, referees are soft on physicality and shirt pulling etc. as Ollie points out, there are going to be ganes where superior skill is not enough.  Be interesting to see if Ollie signs an enforcer.

[theakston2k]

After a quick 2 minute look only at Doncaster - they’ve lost to Bromley twice, Harrogate once & drawn with Carlisle.

The first goal conceded stat is the most damning for us, we’ve conceded first 23 times, that’s more than half the matches we’ve played and only 4 teams have a worst record than that. You aren’t going to achieve anything if you keep leaving yourself a mountain to climb every match. That really needs to be addressed next season.

[Boydy]

The first goal conceded stat is the most damning for us, we’ve conceded first 23 times, that’s more than half the matches we’ve played and only 4 teams have a worst record than that. You aren’t going to achieve anything if you keep leaving yourself a mountain to climb every match. That really needs to be addressed next season.

It's why I wouldn't be upset if someone does come in for Wright. As good as he is at so many other things, he's not been particularly good as an actual central defender.
I wonder if we'd be better of moving him permanently to midfield. It would allow him to get forward, as he constantly wants to do anyway. Then Holloway can focus on a new solid backline.

[theakston2k]

It's why I wouldn't be upset if someone does come in for Wright. As good as he is at so many other things, he's not been particularly good as an actual central defender.
I wonder if we'd be better of moving him permanently to midfield. It would allow him to get forward, as he constantly wants to do anyway. Then Holloway can focus on a new solid backline.

Possibly, he’s definitely a luxury centre back but chopping and changing his partner hasn’t helped.

Stats do absolutely highlight our issues though. We’ve spent 31% of the season being behind in games, only Carlisle, Morecambe and Accrington have been behind for a longer period than us this season. We’ve scored more goals in the last 10 minutes than anyone else with 19 in total but that isn’t the recipe for a successful team.

[DV]

How does that stat split between Kennedy & Holloway?

[Ƭ̵̬̊: The Artist Formerly Known as CWIG]

After a quick 2 minute look only at Doncaster - they’ve lost to Bromley twice, Harrogate once & drawn with Carlisle.

Grimsby looked dog shit against us both games yet are much higher as well.

Walsall were pissing it and have fallen off.

Its a bad league. You don't need to be very good to get out of it at the right end. Basics.

[theakston2k]

How does that stat split between Kennedy & Holloway?

Something like 60% conceded first under Kennedy reduced to about 35% under Holloway so a noticeable improvement but it’s clearly an issue. When you look at a half time league table we are 22nd, we’ve only been winning at half time 9 times all season versus losing 16 times. We’ve all seen it with our own eyes but the stats just show how much of an uphill battle we create for ourselves and fair play we have managed to turn around a lot of games but it’s not a sustainable record for success.

We are a really weird team, some of our stats are amongst the best in the league and some are amongst the worst. We aren’t really mid-table in anything but the 2 cancel each other out to create a mid-table team.