TheBigDog

Their CEO is better looking than ours though...

I had exactly this thought too I believe that having seen Taylor in training, Scholes would rightly conclude that the left back’s best days are well and truly behind him. Maybe AL forgot to mention the contract clause if/when he asked PS not to pick the ‘past his best’ defender? It’s good this guesswork game

I don't think that Maouche should be singled out as having a stinker. He was at fault for the second Swindon goal its true, but up to that point he was on a par with the rest of our ineffective forwards. Thereafter his head dropped and was rightly subbed. Agree with your point that Baxter and Sylla made a huge difference. O'Grady simply failed to hold the ball up and that meant that the ball kept coming back at us. It was a strange performance by the team, similar to the second half at Colchester. Having said that, we looked by far the better side for the last quarter and Lang could have won it for us. Baxter and Sylla to start at Cheltenham.

Aha! Just to clarify, I think that AL has made an error of judgement in simply ignoring the letter. I wonder if we will belatedly hear from him now that Scholes has had his say?

I don’t actually understand this post Dave What are you saying is irrelevant? My opinion that AL’s non response was misjudged?

Disappointing but not surprising outcome. Misjudged in my opinion.

Posted 4 hours ago... I make that 3:30 am. ‘Good night’ shuck?

I remember going up for that game - two days before we had Norwich away. The article below captures the occasion well. And Joe’s quote sums it up succinctly https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-samways-perfect-way-to-rescue-spurs-oldham-subside-on-their-own-beach-of-a-pitch-as-ardiles-1433916.html For Royle, the torment goes on, at least until tomorrow evening. 'If we go down, we deserve to go down,' the Oldham manager sighed, 'Having said that, we haven't had a single break since that Hughes goal. Now we need a spectacular win - and a few other spectacular results too.'

I personally know two Swindon fans who are coming up for the game solely to support Richie on his return to his former managerial club. There must be others I might have made that up....

Deadline is 5pm today?

Swindon took 319 to Bury recently. So expect maybe 350 as they are on a reasonable run and add in the Wellens factor. i would expect a few more home fans but the boycott will still have an impact.

And respective league position doesn’t always dictate the result of the game* (*) see Norwich v Reading April 10 2019

Nah - meeting some friends at 8:30 in the local and I don't want to be late as they're paying

Given that I have a 200 mile trip back down the motorway I think I’ll skip the ‘sit in protest’ but...given that tomorrow is the final day set by the Trust for receiving a response from Abdallah to the recent letter, I’m waiting for that deadline to pass before I decide whether to put my protest into action...

I was there standing on the open terrace, half of which had been sold off to build a Superstore. Latics fans were crammed in and I remember spending most of the game standing in the walkway with my view partially obscured by a floodlight stanchion. We were under a lot of pressure as I recall but The Bear came good. A great Away Day. https://images.app.goo.gl/a91FLmMFMfK8XbXq9

Dead rubber? What does that even mean?

mikejh45 put forward an opinion that Pete Wild has played a big part in Iversen’s improvement in coming off his line recently. It was by way of a follow up to my post attributing the improvement in part to the goalkeeping coach. Exactly what part Wild (or indeed the gk coach) have played in this perceived improvement is open to debate. This is a discussion forum after all. I believe the change in Iversen started a while back and has continued under Wild. However, in general I see an improvement in the overall commitment of the team since Wild took up the reins again. The players certainly look more confident in their approach and the back four has benefited from the addition of Iacovitti. Whether he is naturally a left back I’m not sure but he is a talker on the pitch and has brought a solidity to the left side of the defence.

This for me too. However Iversen has certainly improved the way he deals with crosses - he comes off his line far more positively recently and that must be down in part to the goalkeeping coach.

Peter Clarke has also been one of our more consistent performers this season.

Possibly...even probably. But it will be good to have the choice of Baxter to come off the bench for the final thirty minutes.

Baxter or Branger-Engone?

File under ‘and that’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47841839 When football makes a difference - warms the cockles it does. And good to see Sean Jarvis still thriving at Huddersfield.

it was a game of two contrasting halves yesterday. In the first we were very much in control, dictating the pace of the game and generally nullifying the Colchester attack. The early goal helped to settle the team and the gifted second was deserved reward for some enterprising play. Colchester did have one moment when their striker was through on goal only for Edmundson to recover putting the forward off his stride. The halftime stats reflected our superiority in the first forty-five. The second half painted a different picture. We came out and looked slow and off the pace going forward. Colchester by contrast definitely upped their game. They were quicker and more robust in the tackle and we sat back (or more likely were pushed back). The home team dominated for long spells gaining a succession of corners and free kicks. Iversen making his customary worldy from a Dickenson free kick and continued to show his improved aerial form. But the team dug in and competed superbly at the back, winning headers and getting blocks and tackles in to thwart and ultimately frustrate the home forwards. Maybe the flu virus that has been going around the club started to have an effect? Despite being under the cosh for most of the second half, Lang and Nepomuceno did bring decent saves from the home keeper and one mazy run by Afolayan almost created a chance for a third. The Man of the Match? The defence. And a huge shout out to the 254 who made the journey - great support throughout and support that was well appreciated by the squad and management at the final whistle.

Sort of where I was coming from.

The team and Pete Wild thank you for your loyal support.