Inside Swindon Town - All Comments

re: Why Danny Wilson feels Sir Alex Ferguson's pain

logz90 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:52:26 GMT

alan o'brien has more resemblence to a headless chicken than a footballer

re: Stockport: That was never a penalty!

Doctorbes — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:16:38 GMT

I understand the sentiments outlined in the article on Stockport County but sadly the author misses a few pretty important points.

First, we as a club have been royally destroyed by businessmen who have treated our club with scant regard while doing shady deals to ensure a rugby union team has a ground to play at. Two, the article suggests we have bought big this season. Eh? On Friday we played with, by my calculation, 9 players who had a close connection with the youth team. Indeed, some of them are so close to the youth team we had to get permission from a headmaster (I"m not making this up) in order that he could play the previous week. True, we did buy two players for a grand total of £400,000 in summer (after selling a player for £750,000), and this was an acknowledged error, but the reasons why County are in administration are not down to trying to "buy success" - more that certain businessmen took away our ability to trade in the way every other club trades. We aren't allowed to generate income from non-footballing activities - including match day hospitality, matchday beer and food sales, etc - and have competed on an uneven playing field all season (in more ways than one, considering the state of our pitch).

Yes, it is a bit unfair that we haven't been punished but if you had lived through the last four months like we have, I'd guess you'd understand that perhaps we've been punished enough.

re: Supporting Swindon Town is bad for your health

Summerof69 — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:38:26 GMT

I got to admit, I was doing exactly the same thing glued to SSN, rather watching the Liverpool match.

Luckily for us, after beating Rovers, it is now over and we're safe for another season, and Simon Cox breaking the post-war club record goals in a league season as well, despite playing in a struggling side.

Congratulation to him...and after Saturday, looking forward to the new season already...with 3 months to go !!!

re: Supporting Swindon Town is bad for your health

Tintin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:21:15 GMT

Great post as usual Nick. I gotta say I havent been so nerovus the week before a swindon game as this! Hopefully we can take the win on saturday against rovers, so I can go to london road slightly more relaxed. Knowing us though I'm sure I and the rest of the travelling town support will be kept on edge all game.

re: Cometh the hour, cometh the man…

Doctor Bamber — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:51:48 GMT

As a fellow Swindon fan Nick I share your raptures over Coxy, and the realism that this summer has to be the time we cash in, right now he is hot and there are plenty of clubs willing to part with good money for him now, he truly doesnt need another season at League One level and surely he is worth the gamble from a decent Championship side - lets just pray its not Drizzle City who come in for him

However, I dont subscribe to a number of our fans who cite Coxy as the sole reason for us dragging ourselves out of the bottom 3 and looking a good bet to stay up.

Hal Robson Kanu, Gordon Greer and Owain Tudur-Jones (who does sound as if he should be mounted on a white charger rescuing damsels in distress rather than playing football) have all proved highly effective signings. All three look totally comfortable at this level and give us a solid backbone to the side that we just were not getting with Aljofree, Ifill, and Pook etc earlier in the season.

I am convinced Robson Kanu will play bith at the highest league level, and internationally in the next 2-3 years, but I am not convinced Coxy will.

Last time we had a loanee that showed the pace, style, class, and vision Robson-Kanu does, it was James Milner.

re: Cometh the hour, cometh the man…

smaisey — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:28:56 GMT

Nice write up Juddie.

Also, nice link to my Youtube video. Shame it's such poor quality though.

And Fabrecass (?), Beckford is certainly not the most exciting forward in League One. Cox is without any argument.

re: Cometh the hour, cometh the man…

Fabrecass — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:47:43 GMT

Jermaine Beckford is the most exciting forward in League Un.

re: Clock watching, window smashing & wonder strikes

Summerof69 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:48:32 GMT

Agree with your comments about Coxy's goal.

It's definately up there with Kenny Stroud's effort in the 70's, Malon Broomes' 40 yard effort and Danny Invincible's last gasp goal against Peterborough which kept us up and sent Rovers down.

re: Clock watching, window smashing & wonder strikes

Tintin — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:54:21 GMT

Couldn't agree more about that Cox goal, it was pure class, though the bloke sitting in front of me was in the bathroom when it went in! Lets say he got his fair share of stick from his son and others sat near him, when he came back. Hopefully we can hold on to Cox until the end of the window, and perhaps get in another loan singing to boost the midfield. Great post as always.

re: Oxford five-point penalty met with wry smile in Swindon

NottsOxon — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:03:21 GMT

Oxford say they, like Mansfield, maybe like Crawley and Bognor Regis, sent the re-registration and the Conference claim they didn't receive it.

The problem is the Conference run a fax based system with random checks of player registration, unlike, say, the Hellenic league's online system or most boys leagues in Notts or Oxon running card photo-registration systems.

The ball's very much in the Conference's court on this one!

re: Oxford five-point penalty met with wry smile in Swindon

FourFourTwo Team — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:50:52 GMT

Our apologies, hopefully there's a much better photo of the real EH on display now.

re: Oxford five-point penalty met with wry smile in Swindon

dcoufc — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:23:32 GMT

I think you'll find that the picture you currently have up with the 'Playing without permission: Oxford's Eddie Hutchinson' caption is actually James Constable. Eddie is bald and half the player of JC.

re: Better late than never as Fitton finally finds his man

kieranschampions — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:14:37 GMT

Disaggree.

Your going down..

re: Better late than never as Fitton finally finds his man

Tintin — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:40:54 GMT

Hahaha its nice to see that the friendship between Brighton fans and Swindon fans hasnt died! >.<! You might want too see us go down as much as we'd like to see you depart the league, but the truth is that niether of us will go down this season. Glad we finally got someone in, we have a good appointment in Wilson and I'm backing him to turn it around. Seems ironic that Calderwood was sacked days after we appointed him Wilson though.

re: Better late than never as Fitton finally finds his man

kieranschampions — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:44:50 GMT

"We were abysmal against Brighton & Hove Albion and their win after a thoroughly forgettable 90 minutes saw them leapfrog us in the table. And boy were they bad!"

Second half we completely outplayed you and your fans were the worst and quietest i have ever seen except a few in the small stand by the goal, hope you go down:)

re: Rumours fly like Robins about Swindon's next boss

Georgina Best — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:43:41 GMT

Poyet would be a great appointment. Swindon have got some good players and I'm sure he would bring out the best in them. As a Leicester City fan though I'm hoping it Hollow Way

re: Rumours fly like Robins about Swindon's next boss

Tintin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:35:53 GMT

I've got to say my first choice at the moment would be Poyet, he was defiantly the brains behind the partnership of him and Wise and he'd bring a good style of passing football to the club. Seemingly we have an abudance of good managers wanting to be the new boss, and I'm confidnet Fitton will pick the right man for the job, especially after last time.

re: The names in the frame for Swindon's vacant hot-seat

Camborne78 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:21:42 GMT

Holloway or Cotterill for me...please no Dowie.

re: The names in the frame for Swindon's vacant hot-seat

Summerof69 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:50:05 GMT

Gary Speed with Paul Bodin his No.2.

re: The names in the frame for Swindon's vacant hot-seat

reeves4england — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:35:11 GMT

Even if we do get Holloway, I think it's going to be a bit tight getting him in by 3pm on Saturday...

I'm not sure what I'd make of him or Dowie to be honest, but I wouldn't be disappointed with either. Cotterill would be a great appointment if we could get him.

re: The names in the frame for Swindon's vacant hot-seat

rob drury — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:07:10 GMT

...can't see them looking beyond Holloway...too much coincidence about his visit the other week. Just in time for a bit of revenge for him v Leicester...

re: Swindon simian drops banana skin at Histon

Camborne78 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:34:20 GMT

Good post Nick. Would imagine MM getting sacked is more about lost revenue than the results. Unless they pick up some points and appoint an interesting manager the crowds will dwindle and Fitton will be forced to sell in January. Hasslebank wants to be manager....

re: Swindon simian drops banana skin at Histon

Tintin — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:41:57 GMT

Great post as usual, we were hopeless at Histon and I couldnt agree more with you about the Cox situation, he's a quality player and as much as he loves swindon for giving him a chance, i'm sure he would jump at the chance to play a higher standard of football. Seems sadly ironic this was written before Malpas left.

re: Stringent Swindon worlds away from cash-splashing Spurs

rob drury — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:15:29 GMT

It's now November 13. It goes to show that two weeks is a long time in football! Harry the hero - Maurice back on the rocks after Histon nd Brighton. What price now for the prudent Board to get someone into STFC and give our erratic team the self belief that HR has quickly driven into Spurs' talented but under performing millionaires.....

re: Holloway sighting the talk of the Town

Unityred — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:31:47 GMT

I would love to see Colin Calderwood at our helm, i interviewed him as a youngster for a school project during his Town days and he was a really nice bloke, add that to his success at Northampton and Forest as a manager and his popularity with Swindon fans and we have ourselves the posotive atmosphere we're all striving for.

But after all said and done we have to make the best of a bad manager....sorry, situation! So whereas i don't think you're the man for the job Maurice, you'll still get my support whilst you're doing your best for my club....!

re: Holloway sighting the talk of the Town

e1westy — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:40:33 GMT

Ian Holloway???? Unlucky, he's a very funny man, until it's your club that becomes a laughing stock, then is's not really funny at all. Although to be honest last season we made ourselves a laughing stock long before Mr Holloway turned up, so maybe I'm just bitter about getting relegated!!!

re: Holloway sighting the talk of the Town

pilgrimtel — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:31:13 GMT

Ian Hollway and his coaching staff whilst at Plymouth Argyle were good and added some excellent players. He was idolised by me and most of the Plymouth Argyle fans, and then it became a nightmare, he destroyed all our hopes and aspiration . Until a day before leaving he professed to have green blood flowing through his veins and stated he was going no where, what a liar. I believe he was engineering his departure At least a month before it happened, why else would he sell highly rated Akos Buzaky for peanuts and the only player Holloway would pay to watch.

From the moment driving away from Home Park, he was not only berating our club but scheming on how to dismantle the existing team that he helped to build, and he finally succeeded. All that we got from him after he left us was venom and vindictiveness. I for one would find it difficult to ever forgive him until he properly apologises to the Plymouth fans.

So Swindon fans may get a good manager who will probably eventually let them down badly, be warned.

re: Fan view: Swindon's pleasure-seeking five-point plan

Summerof69 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:28:57 GMT

Fully agree Juddie.

The fans have short memories..we were the joint top scorers at home in this league last season. Hopefully one result will change the mood at the CG.

It's great to talk about football, than the off field troubles what was going on this time last year.People still forget that just before Fitton and co. took over ten months ago, we were probably days away from going out of business.

re: Fan view: Swindon's pleasure-seeking five-point plan

Unityred — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:51:35 GMT

I think we could go on an unbeaten run untill christmas, lose on boxing day and some/most would still call for the chiefs scalp!

Many of us are expecting too much too soon, a victory over Hereford tonight should help player and supporter moral but both groups need to perform together at SN1.

I hope no-one at FourFourTwo is starting to regret joining us!

re: Fan view: Swindon's pleasure-seeking five-point plan

rob drury — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:50:22 GMT

A good summary of where we are and what we need. Malpas'other major problem is lack of empathy with the fans due to his dour approach, lack of animation and good PR. When things are not going so well - as they have not been for a few weeks - it means he comes even more under scrutiny. He already has a lot of ground to make up and even a string of good results may not appease the disenchanted...

re: Doom and gloom already set in around Swindon

chris18_swindon1 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:52:06 GMT

if we can improve our defence we will be fine though. looking at our defenders casal smith ifil kanyuka morrisson ajofree. we have some talent however ajofree is not as good as he used to be and when vincent is back to form i relish to watch ifil vincent kanyuka and casal

re: Doom and gloom already set in around Swindon

Norman Hutt — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:09:28 GMT

The best way to judge a manager in my view is to compare what you would do in his position, in each circumstance. On team selection, with what he has available I have agreed with him nearly every time,unlike with some previous managers.

His comments, general honesty, courtesy and accuracy have apparently been good.

Players fitness and training seem OK in principle.

On the negative side,something is wrong with the defensive organisation obviously, with too many basic mistakes. How Malpas deals with this, and the lack of money to buy and pay new players because of understandable prudence by the Board, will determine our season. There is a doubt about his ability to change tactics during games and enthusiasm to gee them up, but it is not really known what goes on behind the scenes.

On the whole, IMO a sound honest man who is feeling his way but it will take time to get consistency, which we have not had for many seasons. I would like to know what the players think of him...... No idea

re: Oi, League One team! Your ground is horrible!

seagull_neil — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:52:37 GMT

Just want to point out

"Good job the pitch is seven miles from the stand; we couldn’t hear what the baying Brighton faithful were singing"

The game in question, the playoff semi final the away stand at the Withdean was actually what is now our Family stand, which is close to the pitch and just behind the goal the penalties were taken in.

I can only assume you were not at the game to make such a comment.

re: Transfer window shuts on Swindon... am I bothered?!

Camborne78 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:43:49 GMT

Good blog Juddie - puts things into perspective after the last 24 hours

re: Transfer window shuts on Swindon... am I bothered?!

Summerof69 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:10:53 GMT

Fully agree Juddie. Time for people to get a life than to get worried about the transfer window and who they sign/don't sign.

When we've been so close to non-existance, like last December, you take each day as it comes, and hope we never get that close again.