NEW YEAR REPORT

[redjed]

How is your team doing, are your expectations being met or are you close to chucking it in for the season?
Swindon are exceeding my expectations, I was hoping for a play off spot, but Wellens has put together a young team that play exciting football and score for fun.
Doyle and Grant up front are scoring the goals, in midfield we have a abundance of talented players, Doughty, Isgrove, Anderson , Woolery just to name a couple.and in Benda, we have a keeper who will be capped many times by Germany, Swansea have a lot of money coming to them when they sell him, with Liverpool and Aston Villa sniffing around.
Yes I'm happy, Swindon always seem to have a decent season at the start of a new decade, I cannot see any reason not to continue for the rest of this season.

 

[Gladders]

Started off well even though the football was dire to watch being long ball, signed players like Hanson and Green that we thought would be great.

After about 10 games it all went downhill. Green has turned out to be a washed up non league has been well past his sell by date and been awful. Hanson through no fault of his has dictated that we played long ball to his head resulting in us being one dimensional and pants.

Jolley the non footballing coach with so much promise led us to glamour cup ties including Chelsea were he tried to have a go and got thrashed rather than the underdog smash and grab. Ended up leaving after a lovers tiff with the local radio and we went back on long unwinnable run where it looked like performances had improved and Fenty was still penny pinching and trying to find any excuse to appoint Limbrick, and do what he can to avoid relegation spending as little as possible.

Then it all changed this week with what most would consider a coup for bottom half lge 2 side in getting a very experienced ex premier lge manager in the building. From looking like the season was another write off after so much promise we now go into 2020 looking up again and hopefully building something for next season and beyond.

 

[valefan16]

Happy enough and probably a bit beyond expectations at the start of the season.

7 losses in 32 games in all competitions is huge progress from the Smurf era but still tinged with frustration that we’ve blown 23 points from winning positions! Even an average stat of that would have seen us challenge the top sides so something to work on.

Some players we didn’t expect have turned out to be good, Jake Taylor the obvious but also Burgess who has managed to cover the gap left by Mannys injury problems.

Off the field has been tremendous since the take over with the improvements, the Robbie concert and Man City game, the place is buzzing for the first time in years and that’s something that seemed unlikely in the dark days at the start of 2019.

Hopefully we can have a good January with some money now there to spend but even if we do fall short this season which was only ever expected to be a season of consolidation under the new owners and mess Askey was left to sort out I am confident the foundations are in place to go for it next season which for the club is the bare minimum fans would expect. Hopefully the dark days of fearing for our EFL status are over and finally enjoying it again.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Vastly exceeded expectations. I never thought we'd be in trouble this season but we had a complete overhaul in the Summer. Long serving key players Ben Garratt and George Ray left the club and we lost the goals and creativity of Jordan Bowery whilst losing depth at LB by not retaining Aaron Taylor-Sinclair's services too.

But fair play to the current crop, they've come on leaps and bounds. Whilst Olly Lancashire has been a below-par signing, Daniel Powell has been an excellent signing for us since his return from injury and is in fine form indeed. Chris Porter's form has been excellent but with him injured, unknown loan signing from FC Midtjylland Chuma Anene has stepped up to the plate and contributed with some fine finishes of his own as well. Will Jaaskelainen has been solid enough in goal, Oli Finney and Owen Dale are starting to establish themselves as key parts of the side and Rio Adebisi is making his first starts before he inevitably becomes a regular in the next few seasons.

This is a pivotal month for us as the vultures swoop over Gresty Road, hopefully it won't be many players sold but I can see 1 or 2 leaving. But the football we're playing here is the best I've seen since our 2002-03 promotion season. It really has been a fantastic season and let's hope for more of the same in 2020! A 4-1 win over Carlisle is a very positive start...

 

[Sydney Posse]

I believed we would be up there this season, and possibly challenge for the automatics, so being 2nd at this stage is not a big shock for me. We have a really big squad this season, and 2-3 very classy players for this division, which I think gives us the edge. Sparkes got injured last week, and the talk is it may be for the rest of the season. That is a big blow as he has been amazing, but as long as we don't lose bodies in the transfer window, we have enough coverage to continue on an upward trajectory without him. Automatics was the club target this season, and we certainly are in contention. I'm half expecting the likes of Bradford, Swindon, Plymouth etc to spend in the window and strengthen a bit, which I don't think we will do unless people leave first, but we've got the squad this year so should be fine

 

[JJ1532]

Vastly exceeded expectations. I never thought we'd be in trouble this season but we had a complete overhaul in the Summer. Long serving key players Ben Garratt and George Ray left the club and we lost the goals and creativity of Jordan Bowery whilst losing depth at LB by not retaining Aaron Taylor-Sinclair's services too.

But fair play to the current crop, they've come on leaps and bounds. Whilst Olly Lancashire has been a below-par signing, Daniel Powell has been an excellent signing for us since his return from injury and is in fine form indeed. Chris Porter's form has been excellent but with him injured, unknown loan signing from FC Midtjylland Chuma Anene has stepped up to the plate and contributed with some fine finishes of his own as well. Will Jaaskelainen has been solid enough in goal, Oli Finney and Owen Dale are starting to establish themselves as key parts of the side and Rio Adebisi is making his first starts before he inevitably becomes a regular in the next few seasons.

This is a pivotal month for us as the vultures swoop over Gresty Road, hopefully it won't be many players sold but I can see 1 or 2 leaving. But the football we're playing here is the best I've seen since our 2002-03 promotion season. It really has been a fantastic season and let's hope for more of the same in 2020! A 4-1 win over Carlisle is a very positive start...

I echo these comments. This season has been a dream so far, really worried what the next few weeks will hold in the transfer window. I'm naively hoping any departures can be agreed now but put off till the summer to allow this squad to finish what they started, or we can get them back on loan. I doubt it'll happen, but fingers crossed it does.

 

[oakroader]

Mr and mrs Luton...
You’re boy is mixing with the wrong crowd...
He doesn’t concentrate on his homework...
He can’t do the basic things shown to him...
Attendance...doesn’t turn up for games...
Attitude...needs to adapt to surroundings...
Behaviour...must learn to be good for 90 minutes....
Frankly...could do better
Headmaster...,

 

[TimeyWimey]

Vastly exceeded expectations. I never thought we'd be in trouble this season but we had a complete overhaul in the Summer. Long serving key players Ben Garratt and George Ray left the club and we lost the goals and creativity of Jordan Bowery whilst losing depth at LB by not retaining Aaron Taylor-Sinclair's services too.

But fair play to the current crop, they've come on leaps and bounds. Whilst Olly Lancashire has been a below-par signing, Daniel Powell has been an excellent signing for us since his return from injury and is in fine form indeed. Chris Porter's form has been excellent but with him injured, unknown loan signing from FC Midtjylland Chuma Anene has stepped up to the plate and contributed with some fine finishes of his own as well. Will Jaaskelainen has been solid enough in goal, Oli Finney and Owen Dale are starting to establish themselves as key parts of the side and Rio Adebisi is making his first starts before he inevitably becomes a regular in the next few seasons.

This is a pivotal month for us as the vultures swoop over Gresty Road, hopefully it won't be many players sold but I can see 1 or 2 leaving. But the football we're playing here is the best I've seen since our 2002-03 promotion season. It really has been a fantastic season and let's hope for more of the same in 2020! A 4-1 win over Carlisle is a very positive start...

For sure.

It was clear we were in for a decent season the way we came good last season but the way Artell and Lunt have improved the overall quality and made us such an impressive team is stunning. In 11/12 we did it through an incredible team spirit + Nick Powell. This team is built with solid foundations and playing some incredible stuff a lot of the time. I’m not too concerned about the window, I think it’s too early for most players and ones we could lose, whilst devastating in general, I don’t think will have the impact of Ashton or Powell.

We can still improve on our proneness to a stinker of a performance/result but if we stay in the top 7 till May, I ain’t complaining.

The whole of 2019 was transformative for us in general without anything to really show for it in terms of successes. With this team in place, Norman Hassall fucking off and hopefully a sustained promotion push, 2020 is going to be bloody wonderful.

 

[Chris FGR]

Started off surprisingly well given our squad on paper looked weaker. Have gradually started to slide away as the season has progressed, need a bit of fresh blood in to shake things up.

 

[Andy Proctor]

We are doing better than expected. Most fans expected about 15th and we are pretty comfortable in 10th position. We have thrown away quite a few points this season so could have even been in the top 7. We have also nearly scored as many goals in the league as last season with 20 games still play which shows how poor we were last season.

 

[lordofthepies]

I expected big things from the team this season and would have been surprised if we didn't make a promotion challenge - it was clear from the second half of last season that our young players were really starting to mature and we were really building something. If we could remain patient and stick to the plan to play real football, I was very confident we'd do well. However, we probably have surpassed expectations - I was we'd be in the conversation but some of the football we've played has been absolutely breathtaking at times. I was also a bit worried about the goalkeeping situation - from the games he played at the end of last season, Jaaskelainen showed that he had real potential but I was sure he wasn't ready to be a first choice keeper. SImilarly, from what I'd seen of Richards, I wasn't convinced he was good enough. However, Jaaskelainen has been superb - he's made a couple of mistakes (what young keeper hasn't?) but overall has done very well and seems to get better every week. Richards has done very well when he's come in too.

Long may this continue - hope we don't lose too many players this month...

 

[AdamStag]

2019 was pretty dire for us.

However, with a 100% success rate in 2020 this is clearly the year of the stag

 

[Tom_CUFC]

We're exactly where I expected us to be, but it's been boring as fuck for the most part to get there. Mid-table after finishing 22nd last season is absolutely fine, especially with the pretty piss poor squad we have, but it feels like the inevitable sequence of events will be: 1) Release most of the squad (great) 2) Let Calderwood sign a load of dross on 2/3 year contracts in the summer 3) Continue to be boring as hell through the first 4 months of next season with worse results than this 4) Sack Calderwood 5) Start rebuilding for the 4th time since our promotion without having achieved anything of significance. Feels like we're stuck in an infinite loop of mid/lower table mediocrity, apart from the odd exciting scare of relegation every 3 years.

 

[Attila the hun]

Gonna be a massive January for us need strikers a big lump and a mobile player off him we been woeful in the final third all season may be a centre half as well if we dont it’s a relegation battle if we do best we can hope for us mid table. The clubs in turmoil under our current owner and things are getting more toxic by the game did I expect it. At the start of the season you bet I did

 

[Indian Dan]

Wellens took a gamble recruiting a number of players who were obviously too good for L2 but had prior injury problems - Lyden, Fryers and Isgrove, in particular. Grant came with supposedly personal baggage and, as with most clubs, a full complement of loanees.

So not a huge surprise we’re doing well at the moment. The most pleasing thing, though, is even when we’ve been hit was a raft of injuries recently, the team hasn’t suffered too much. We had a wobbly spell earlier on when injuries hit, losing to Crewe and Bradford away.

If we end January in a similar position to where we are now we should kick on to automatic promotion without too much trouble.

Obviously the status of our present loan players may have a part to play if any are recalled.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

Didnt know what to expect, just turn things round after the mistakes made in the last year.

Dreadful start as Hursty started to find out who the wasters were and bring in his own players, mid table is about right for us at the moment, we can score but we always look like conceding though.

 

[E10rifle]

It’s been a bit of a fucking mess, to be honest. Not entirely unexpected, but we need some leadership from somewhere, anywhere. On the pitch, in the dugout, in the boardroom; where ever.

 

[HutchECFC]

Could be worse I guess.

Nah, honestly though, if you had told us at the start of the season that after the NYD games we'd be in 2nd two points off top, I'd have bitten your hand off. Better than expected, as I thought we'd hover around the play offs.

 

[LeonTheGreen]

I’d say we’re getting there...

Ryan Lowe likes to play a particular way and it was clear at first that the players struggled to play it. A lot of emphasis was put purely on possession play, without really going anywhere, and particularly away from home we struggled. However in the last couple months we’ve shown a steely side to us, picking up 1-0 wins at good opposition such as FGR and Cheltenham. At home we can beat anyone.

We need a goal scorer in this window. Simple as that. With the chances we create, especially at home, we should be blowing teams away. It’s bit us on the arse a few times already this season.

Interestingly, we are in a very similar position to Bury last season. I still believe we’ll go up, just need to get that striker in.

 

[Vanni]

We're exactly where I expected us to be, but it's been boring as fuck for the most part to get there. Mid-table after finishing 22nd last season is absolutely fine, especially with the pretty piss poor squad we have, but it feels like the inevitable sequence of events will be: 1) Release most of the squad (great) 2) Let Calderwood sign a load of dross on 2/3 year contracts in the summer 3) Continue to be boring as hell through the first 4 months of next season with worse results than this 4) Sack Calderwood 5) Start rebuilding for the 4th time since our promotion without having achieved anything of significance. Feels like we're stuck in an infinite loop of mid/lower table mediocrity, apart from the odd exciting scare of relegation every 3 years.

I liked your post not because it's a cheerful post or anything but it's looking increasingly likely by the day that that's just the way it's going to turn out.

I don't want to be that negative but I actually feel for those U's fans thinking that Calderwood will get rid of the deadwood in the summer and build a top 7 side for next season. There's been nothing to even remotely suggest that he's capable of doing that.

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

Main thing was to stop the slide after last season. We enter the New Year in midtable and need to secure that now. A midtable finish will be a relief. Unimpressed with Hurst as manager. Believe we need to change him out, but it will not happen.

 

[Si Robin]

Interview with our chairman in the local news today confirmed our budget is in the bottom 4 or 5 of the League which just goes to show how well Mickey Duff has done to have us in 5th place with less than half the season to go.

 

[GTFCfish]

Main thing was to stop the slide after last season. We enter the New Year in midtable and need to secure that now. A midtable finish will be a relief. Unimpressed with Hurst as manager. Believe we need to change him out, but it will not happen.

Nah you need to stick with Hurst, he will get it right given time.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

I’d say we’re getting there...

Ryan Lowe likes to play a particular way and it was clear at first that the players struggled to play it. A lot of emphasis was put purely on possession play, without really going anywhere, and particularly away from home we struggled. However in the last couple months we’ve shown a steely side to us, picking up 1-0 wins at good opposition such as FGR and Cheltenham. At home we can beat anyone.

We need a goal scorer in this window. Simple as that. With the chances we create, especially at home, we should be blowing teams away. It’s bit us on the arse a few times already this season.

Interestingly, we are in a very similar position to Bury last season. I still believe we’ll go up, just need to get that striker in.

Pretty much agree with that. Lowe has made a few mistakes, especially as you note not having an alternative to tippy tally, but is learning from them.

I thought we would be arrow day the playoffs, which is where we are. We are simply not consistent enough to be top three, though I suspect if Baxter had not left and had got himself together we might well be. Lots of talk about Mayor, I thought Baxter was the best player we had, or at least the potential to become so.

What is clear is that off the field things are going very well - new Directors with significant pull, new income streams, DoF with very good contacts.