Tue 3rd & Wed 4th December

[EnglishRed]

I've not been keeping close tabs on L2 so hadn't realised quite how badly Swindon's season was going. What's going on there, the owner?

 

[valefan16]

I woke my daughter up too, also got a bollocking .

Curtis scored a header v Fleetwood. I feel a bit for Tolaj, Paton and Curtis. This rotation system works to an extent, but think that's why we've scraped 1 nils. Eventually you're going to be on the wrong end of one and get it wrong. For it to work every time you've got to have some luck going your way. The good thing is we have players like them to come and change the game if needs be.

Tolaj and Paton when they do play are often out of position. I do wonder what would happen if we settled on our strongest 11 (who knows what that is) and allowed some partnerships to embed. Think a few of them 1 nils would have been 2, 3 or 4 nils.

Could pin the poor performance on Moore yesterday, he got it wrong, but then his changes meant we got a point.

Players just seem rusty and we make 4 or 5 changes a game, like Shorrock, scores a wonder goal, not in 18 and imagine he will play at the weekend maybe? The huge squad is great in that unlike many other teams we can largely cope with injury problems, all be it all ours are central midfielders at the minute! but the rotating just make us rusty, we largely win because of the sheer quality we can bring on off the bench to finally break teams who don't have that and are usually weaker for subs and have done that a number of times but would be good if we can just take a team to the cleaners! Even when we've battered teams in games we've won by the odd goal.

Suppose 8 times out of 10 we've probably come out the right side of these tight margins in games, Gillingham the exception but feel we still have gears to go and would like to see us go into those so we can push on, we are top but I don't think we've been anywhere near our best yet which is positive and negative at the same time!

As I have said before Moore is quite a Southgate like figure and like England we have all that talent but seem to play within ourselves and negatively to grind results out with "moments" in games rather than constant pressure and chances. We have those match winners like Curtis and Chissy who can produce those moments but does feel like we can be so much better with the talent we have.

 

[Son of Cod]

Recent performances aside, Chesterfield are doing alright overall I'd say. I think they were massively overhyped in the summer due to Wrexham and Stockport coming up and making light work of the division in the last few seasons when in reality, it's apparent they're some way off that standard. They didn't make wholesale changes in the summer and I suspect there are players in their squad that maybe aren't stepping up as well as they'd have hoped? Top 10 all seaaon so far pretty much with loads of injuries isn't bad at all. I know their fans love Cook but I've never really understood this insistence that every single minute of the season has to be played with the same formation. You're up against it now, go 5 at the back with WBs and play Madden and Grigg up top in a two to shore it up a bit. Seems mad to me that you only ever seem to play one of those two when they're two of your best players (unless I'm wrong which I may well be, just always seems it's one of the other whenever I check a lineup). In around the playoffs come what May I suspect.

Swindon though, fucking hell lads. Get that clown sacked ASAP otherwise you're down.

 

[Grimsby Road]

The more sinister side says to me that dodgy Swindon owner had seen what Holloway did to us and has employed him as some sort of 'finisher' in terms of their league status and how fans voices will reach fever pitch in terms of fractions against Clemmo or whatever his name his and giving him the opportunity to call it a draw due to discontent and untenable pressure which leaves the club in even more of a mess with no capital or benafactors ; straight out of the John Fenty playbook . Hopefully someone with goodwill has the desire to take Swindon on .

 

[spireite]

Recent performances aside, Chesterfield are doing alright overall I'd say. I think they were massively overhyped in the summer due to Wrexham and Stockport coming up and making light work of the division in the last few seasons when in reality, it's apparent they're some way off that standard. They didn't make wholesale changes in the summer and I suspect there are players in their squad that maybe aren't stepping up as well as they'd have hoped? Top 10 all seaaon so far pretty much with loads of injuries isn't bad at all. I know their fans love Cook but I've never really understood this insistence that every single minute of the season has to be played with the same formation. You're up against it now, go 5 at the back with WBs and play Madden and Grigg up top in a two to shore it up a bit. Seems mad to me that you only ever seem to play one of those two when they're two of your best players (unless I'm wrong which I may well be, just always seems it's one of the other whenever I check a lineup). In around the playoffs come what May I suspect.

Swindon though, fucking hell lads. Get that clown sacked ASAP otherwise you're down.

Paul Cooks plan B has always been 'do plan A better'. It's just how he is and I don't think he's going to change now, old dogs new tricks and all that. Selling Quigley to Forest Green, as basic as he is, definitely hasn't helped with that as now there's no one in the squad who is just an out-ball. With Quigley or similar you can at least go longer over a press and try to feed off seconds, simplify things abit, handy especially away. It's all just been very disjointed all year. The new signings are good players brought in to target our not so great areas, mostly defence, but almost to a man are injured, some badly. Brought in 2 new right backs, both injured. I think we would like to play Madden and Grigg together but it's not really been an option because of Maddens injuries. The keeper situation isn't ideal, we've gone from a bonified #1 to not really knowing who our least bad keeper is, so they kind of rotate, which can't be great for an already mis-match, cobbled together defence. Dunkley being out so long is really awkward, ripples out everywhere. He'd fix a lot of it I think, but even then it's not quite right. So much of it is all very eeeeh, not in place, and with the injuries in key areas not gonna be fixed soon. I think the worrying thing for me performances have really dropped off over the last month or so, last 2 games especially really bad. They had to do nothing to beat us 3-0 last night, nothing, they played it at like a training intensity. I don't think we'll be in a relegation scrap or anything, at least I hope not, but it's just turning out to be a bit of a disappointing first season back.
I think next year we'll be in a better place. Let Cookie have more chance to improve the depth a bit, like you say a lot of them are NL standard.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Recent performances aside, Chesterfield are doing alright overall I'd say. I think they were massively overhyped in the summer due to Wrexham and Stockport coming up and making light work of the division in the last few seasons when in reality, it's apparent they're some way off that standard. They didn't make wholesale changes in the summer and I suspect there are players in their squad that maybe aren't stepping up as well as they'd have hoped? Top 10 all seaaon so far pretty much with loads of injuries isn't bad at all. I know their fans love Cook but I've never really understood this insistence that every single minute of the season has to be played with the same formation. You're up against it now, go 5 at the back with WBs and play Madden and Grigg up top in a two to shore it up a bit. Seems mad to me that you only ever seem to play one of those two when they're two of your best players (unless I'm wrong which I may well be, just always seems it's one of the other whenever I check a lineup). In around the playoffs come what May I suspect.

Swindon though, fucking hell lads. Get that clown sacked ASAP otherwise you're down.

Maddens been pony IMO. He’s also currently injured again and will be for the foreseeable apparently.

 

[spireite]

You know what I don’t like… the secrecy around our injuries and the timescales. Cook literally gives nothing away in terms of how long people are going to be missing for in his interviews so fuck knows when we’ll have people back.

Like where’s Jones? And what’s going on with Metcalfe? Etc….

This is all very true by the way. I presume it's in the interests of keeping oppo managers unclear what team we're going to put out, but shit Cookie seems unclear what team he's going to put out himself so all it does is frustrate fans who don't know what's going off.

 

[Crewelad87]

I've not been keeping close tabs on L2 so hadn't realised quite how badly Swindon's season was going. What's going on there, the owner?

Haunted training ground

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Not going to use the extra time as an excuse tonight, the squad is big enough to cope. Going to Fleetwood is like going to Harrogate, you think this time we might just win but deep down you know the team are going to get battered and that you will have to listen to the Captain Pugwash goal celebration at least 3 times, it’s the hope that kills you

 

[DippyDon]

Really? Watched the second half on the box and the replay a few times - looked off by a couple yards each time

Played on by your left back, and perhaps even the left sided centre back too.

 

[leedsvaliant]

It shows how good our start has been that we're still top and 5 points clear of 4th place, and we've only won 1 of the last 4. As others have said, we've not really panned anyone so far. We seem to fall on the right side of tight games, predominantly because our 2nd half of games (in general) are so much stronger than the opposition because of the players we can bring on. Having said that, we haven't been great recently....Garrity and/or Byers make a huge difference to our team. Feels like we're just stumbling through until they are fit again.

Our starting lineups are often pragmatic and then we can bring on 'difference makers' when others are bringing on journeymen.

Flynn said last night that we're not outstanding at anything but just good at most things. I think he's spot on.

I'm hoping that once we have a full midfield to choose from, we'll be a bit more expansive and turn 1-0s into 3-0s. Wouldn't be at all surprised if we get knocked off the top but I think we'll come strong again.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

Going to hazard a guess it was from our time wasting, how he only found 3 mins in the first place was hilarious.

Thought we were decent if not spectacular and really gave Vale a proper game. Fair play to them for going right to the end, and the goal was a great strike.

They didn’t half celebrate the draw at the end mind…

How is Kinsella getting on?

Saw he was transfer listed by Flynn but then been in midfield consistently the last couple months right?

Loved the bloke even though he is extremely limited and we are better off without him.

 

[Boz]

Home draw v Morecambe. Fairly even opening ten minutes, then Rovers committed defensive suicide. Shrimps on top for the rest of the half. Quick exchange of goals at the start of the second half saw Morecambe restore their lead. However the introduction of subs with pace in Patrick and Saunders gave the visitors something to think about, more fight and heart from Tranmere. Jennings equalised and we had chances to win it, but overall a draw probably about right.

 

[GTFCfish]

If Ian Holloway was the answer at Swindon then fuck knows what the question was?

 

[DippyDon]

If Ian Holloway was the answer at Swindon then fuck knows what the question was?

Who can give the funniest excuses as to why we're not very good this season?

 

[devilofajob]

3-0 now, Alex Gilbey with his second from a Tom Carroll assist. Perfect evening if we can keep the clean sheet (something we are yet to do under Lindsey and Chesterfield have been unlucky too with two shots off the post in the 2nd half…)

Nearly half way through the season, Looks like Lindsey has settled in.
How's Lozza been for you?

 

[Scum.]

Nearly half way through the season, Looks like Lindsey has settled in.
How's Lozza been for you?

His head is fucking massive.

 

[Si Robin]

How is Kinsella getting on?

Saw he was transfer listed by Flynn but then been in midfield consistently the last couple months right?

Loved the bloke even though he is extremely limited and we are better off without him.

He was transfer listed because we have to wheel and deal to make signings - we lost all but about 5 players who were with us last season, so when trying to get someone out to get someone else in, he and Tom Bradbury are next on the chopping block - especially when there's no interest in Matty Taylor and Tom Pett (because they're old and on League 1 wages).

Kins has been awesome since coming back into the team though. Technically, he's not all that, but he does all of the dirty work for Luke Young - he doesn't stop running and he's a nightmare for other midfielders. I bloody love the bloke.

On our pod when he was put up for sale, myself and another guy said he wasn't bad but you couldn't think of a game where he stood out. In the last few games, he's been one of the standout players. League 2 is his level and we're getting the best out of him as a result.

 

[Crewelad87]

MK starting to look like the team everyone feared they might be this season. Anyone that finishes above them this season certainly gets promoted and probably wins the league.

Out of interest how are Luke Offord and Joe White getting on MK fans? I'm certain had Offord not got injured and White re called we would be in league one now.

 

[Scum.]

MK starting to look like the team everyone feared they might be this season. Anyone that finishes above them this season certainly gets promoted and probably wins the league.

Out of interest how are Luke Offord and Joe White getting on MK fans? I'm certain had Offord not got injured and White re called we would be in league one now.

Offord has been up and down but overall decent. White on the other hand is clearly two or three levels above this league. Last night in particular he looked exceptional.

 

[saddler78]

He was transfer listed because we have to wheel and deal to make signings - we lost all but about 5 players who were with us last season, so when trying to get someone out to get someone else in, he and Tom Bradbury are next on the chopping block - especially when there's no interest in Matty Taylor and Tom Pett (because they're old and on League 1 wages).

Kins has been awesome since coming back into the team though. Technically, he's not all that, but he does all of the dirty work for Luke Young - he doesn't stop running and he's a nightmare for other midfielders. I bloody love the bloke.

On our pod when he was put up for sale, myself and another guy said he wasn't bad but you couldn't think of a game where he stood out. In the last few games, he's been one of the standout players. League 2 is his level and we're getting the best out of him as a result.

We love him here mate your description sounds how he was here for years glad he's playing and doing well.

 

[Crewelad87]

Offord has been up and down but overall decent. White on the other hand is clearly two or three levels above this league. Last night in particular he looked exceptional.

We thought the same last year regarding White. Surprised they loaned him back out to a league 2 team to be honest, could easily play high end league 1 if not championship.

 

[JJ1990]

I'll be honest, I didn't expect a goal fest at Highbury tonight. 3-2 to Donny and we've only just reached half time. Bonkers game.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Both had a goal given that was offside and neither side seem to be able to defend although to be fair we’ve had the wind in our favour first half so likely going to get hammered in the second

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

I don’t know too much about the ownership situation and it might not be much consolation but Swindon seem the right sort of size of club who could go down to the national league for a bit, get themselves sorted out and come back much better and stronger.

It’s happened so many times that there seems to be something in it. When Oldham get back up they’ll be in decent shape as well no doubt. It’s the smaller clubs who struggle to get back if they ever do.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

We’ve finally won at Fleetwood

 

[Pie and chips]

I don’t know too much about the ownership situation and it might not be much consolation but Swindon seem the right sort of size of club who could go down to the national league for a bit, get themselves sorted out and come back much better and stronger.

It’s happened so many times that there seems to be something in it. When Oldham get back up they’ll be in decent shape as well no doubt. It’s the smaller clubs who struggle to get back if they ever do.

Swindon remind me of us when we went down to the national league 6 years ago if they do go down it could be a blessing in disguise if they can get a new owner and rebuild like we did and we are coming along nicely at the moment

 

[kieran_vale]

Great result for Doncaster that. Only seen a few highlights but looked vile conditions to play in and I do think Fleetwood are a decent team.

Gillingham seem to have fallen right off. Apart from their win over us got to be close to the point they are thinking of changing manager.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Great result for Doncaster that. Only seen a few highlights but looked vile conditions to play in and I do think Fleetwood are a decent team.

Gillingham seem to have fallen right off. Apart from their win over us got to be close to the point they are thinking of changing manager.

Gills lot on here gone missing

 

[AlanPep]

Cracking “El-Kentico” result, good 3 points (at last!). Been a decent week thus far