Bristol City’s flying winger Albert Adomah has indicated that he fancies playing for Ghana in the 2014 World Cup campaign.
Adomah, 23, was born in London and played for Barnet before moving to the Robins last summer and has dual nationality. Albert proved himself at Championship level last season and gave a number of defenders headaches when I saw him play. He’s still not the finished article, but has stacks of pace and trickery. From what I saw he still needs to improve on his final ball and decision making, but they are things that come with maturity.
Former Liverpool and Newcastle midfielder Didi Hamann has now been linked with the vacant manager’s job at Swindon. The former German international is currently employed in a coaching capacity at Leicester City and joins Paolo di Canio, Paul Buckle, George Burley, Paul Trollope, my mum and numerous others in the running for the job. Meanwhile defender Michael Rose looks to be off to Colchester. The 28 year old former Stockport defender joined from Stockport last summer and was fuming earlier in the season when Danny Wilson dropped him to the bench after the arrival of Alan Sheehan. He told me: “I didn’t come to Swindon to sit on the bench – not at my age.” It looks as though he won’t be hanging around for more of the same treatment.
Bristol Rovers are also in for Buckle once his play-off involvement with Torquay is over.
Oxford boss Chris Wilder has signed Eastbourne Town’s Ryan James, a 21 year old central defender. James played youth football for both Millwall and QPR. James combined playing for Eastbourne with work for the Nike Academy which helps young players join professional clubs. He has been given a six month deal.
I've set up this blog (Monday-Friday) to give extra coverage to teams I cover for the national press. Any views and opinions are all my own. Best wishes, Jeff. Follow me on Twitter and I'll update you each time I blog. http://twitter.com/JeffTaplin P.S. During the summer break I reserve the right to ramble on about anything and everything!
Showing posts with label Swindon Town. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swindon Town. Show all posts
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Swindon Town 1 Bournemouth 2 - Catch Up
Charlie Austin cut quite a forlorn figure in the tunnel after the game and he was obviously as frustrated at the way things are going at the County Ground.
Equally, Danny Wilson alluded to the fact that maybe the pressure would ease away from home as the Robins fans become increasingly annoyed. He looked to be proved right by yesterday’s amazing 4-1 win at Charlton and watching Austin score two goals against the Addicks, you could tell that he hadn’t let the Bournemouth defeat eat away at him for too long.
To Bournemouth’s credit though they are a decent side and might well surprise a few people this season and take one of the promotion spots. If that happens, they will find it difficult to hold on to 33 year old manager Eddie Howe in the summer … assuming he doesn’t leave in the next couple of weeks for Burnley, Bristol Rovers or one of the many other vacancies available.
Both of the Cherries goalscorers – skipper Jason Pearce and winger Marc Pugh – told me after the game that they were desperate for Howe to stay and you could feel the camaraderie in the squad – a major asset for a club of this size and with so few resources.
I would bet that Howe will see the campaign through to the end of the season on the south coast and then make his next career move.
Then again, after this performance I would have put money on Swindon slipping towards the trap door at a rate of knots and – as the win against Charlton showed – they have no intention of letting that happen.
Mind you, to ensure League One football next season they are going to have to hold on to Austin as without him it is difficult to see who can weigh in with twenty-plus goals.
Matt Ritchie pulled one back for Swindon before Pearce’s 80th minute overhead winner and even though he also found the net against Charlton – he’s no Charlie Austin.
Austin suffered a very bad injury before his career had even started belatedly fifteen months ago and so knows how fickle this game can be. Would he turn down a move this month to a Championship club? I doubt it and wouldn’t blame him. Could the club turn down an offer of £1 million plus having invested peanuts in acquiring him last year? I doubt that either.
I also doubt that Danny Wilson would be happy with the decision or that he’d survive until the end of the season if the board sold his star striker.
My clipping from the paper
Equally, Danny Wilson alluded to the fact that maybe the pressure would ease away from home as the Robins fans become increasingly annoyed. He looked to be proved right by yesterday’s amazing 4-1 win at Charlton and watching Austin score two goals against the Addicks, you could tell that he hadn’t let the Bournemouth defeat eat away at him for too long.
To Bournemouth’s credit though they are a decent side and might well surprise a few people this season and take one of the promotion spots. If that happens, they will find it difficult to hold on to 33 year old manager Eddie Howe in the summer … assuming he doesn’t leave in the next couple of weeks for Burnley, Bristol Rovers or one of the many other vacancies available.
Both of the Cherries goalscorers – skipper Jason Pearce and winger Marc Pugh – told me after the game that they were desperate for Howe to stay and you could feel the camaraderie in the squad – a major asset for a club of this size and with so few resources.
I would bet that Howe will see the campaign through to the end of the season on the south coast and then make his next career move.
Then again, after this performance I would have put money on Swindon slipping towards the trap door at a rate of knots and – as the win against Charlton showed – they have no intention of letting that happen.
Mind you, to ensure League One football next season they are going to have to hold on to Austin as without him it is difficult to see who can weigh in with twenty-plus goals.
Matt Ritchie pulled one back for Swindon before Pearce’s 80th minute overhead winner and even though he also found the net against Charlton – he’s no Charlie Austin.
Austin suffered a very bad injury before his career had even started belatedly fifteen months ago and so knows how fickle this game can be. Would he turn down a move this month to a Championship club? I doubt it and wouldn’t blame him. Could the club turn down an offer of £1 million plus having invested peanuts in acquiring him last year? I doubt that either.
I also doubt that Danny Wilson would be happy with the decision or that he’d survive until the end of the season if the board sold his star striker.
And the News of the World clipping
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Wilson praises youngsters – Kids are Alright
A two-all draw won’t be something Swindon chief Danny Wilson will end up being pleased with at most home games this season, but following Alan Sheehan’s sending off, his ten man side fought back twice and he said:
“I have to say that if anyone asks any questions about the character of the team and players, that was on show today. They were absolutely fantastic. You can’t ask for any more than that for commitment and to come back like they did on both occasions was a fantastic credit to them.
It was a very young side that was out there. A very young side. But they’ve shown a lot of maturity today.”
On Rose being put on the bench at the start of the game, Wilson admitted:
“I’m sure he will feel aggrieved, but that’s football. That’s life. You make a decision and that’s it. I just felt it was a home game that was possibly set up for Alan, but it wasn’t to be in the end and it turned out to be Michael’s day with a great delivery for the goal (Austin’s) and a fantastic free kick. Terrific. He’s come off the bench and made an impact and that’s what you hope your substitutes will do.
For their second goal (former Swindon loanee Revell) in particular from Alex it’s Sod’s Law isn’t it? From our point of view we could have done better in that situation, but you have to remember that we were getting very stretched then. The lads aren’t on empty tanks as such, but they are starting to stretch it in wide areas and the length of the pitch as well and so it’ difficult to cover the whole ground with a man less as we did. So you can’t be too critical in that respect. They were trying to get to the ball and scampering a bit, but Alex has got into the near post and just beat us to it.
Even then I would have thought the game was over, but fair credit to the boys to come back as they did really.”
Wilson was especially pleased with the two Swindon goals and said:
“There were two bits of quality and the finishes in both cases. Charlie’s header was terrific . Crikey he got the man-of-the-match today and fully deserved it. Without a doubt he’s worked his tail off today on his own up there. He showed terrific appetite for what we needed at that time and showed great responsibility up there on his own. It was never easy against two uncompromising centre backs and he was rewarded for it. It doesn’t always happen.
The second goal was a definite foul, but you’ve still got to execute it. It’s a good position to be in, but you need the exponent of it and Rosey’s come in and planted bang in the top corner and the keeper’s got no chance.”
The Robins’ boss admitted it hadn’t been a great spectacle to start with and said:
“The first half was a poor first half for both teams. There was nothing much to write home about that to be honest. It was a poor game, but it livened up second half. From the way they’ve set themselves up they’ve come to get a decent result. This result might not be what they expected after we went a man down and they’ve been up twice. So really we can take the confidence from that. The fans want to see players run their socks off and they ran themselves to a stand still. No-one’s in a position to say they didn’t do that today.”
Man-of-the match Austin, 21, netted his 6th goal in ten games and was full of praise for Rose. He said: and the work ethic he’s shown today – he’s be
“He’s the sort of player you want on your side. It was a cracking delivery for my goal and then a great free kick. It’s the sort of thing he does all the time in training.”
“I have to say that if anyone asks any questions about the character of the team and players, that was on show today. They were absolutely fantastic. You can’t ask for any more than that for commitment and to come back like they did on both occasions was a fantastic credit to them.
It was a very young side that was out there. A very young side. But they’ve shown a lot of maturity today.”
On Rose being put on the bench at the start of the game, Wilson admitted:
“I’m sure he will feel aggrieved, but that’s football. That’s life. You make a decision and that’s it. I just felt it was a home game that was possibly set up for Alan, but it wasn’t to be in the end and it turned out to be Michael’s day with a great delivery for the goal (Austin’s) and a fantastic free kick. Terrific. He’s come off the bench and made an impact and that’s what you hope your substitutes will do.
For their second goal (former Swindon loanee Revell) in particular from Alex it’s Sod’s Law isn’t it? From our point of view we could have done better in that situation, but you have to remember that we were getting very stretched then. The lads aren’t on empty tanks as such, but they are starting to stretch it in wide areas and the length of the pitch as well and so it’ difficult to cover the whole ground with a man less as we did. So you can’t be too critical in that respect. They were trying to get to the ball and scampering a bit, but Alex has got into the near post and just beat us to it.
Even then I would have thought the game was over, but fair credit to the boys to come back as they did really.”
Wilson was especially pleased with the two Swindon goals and said:
“There were two bits of quality and the finishes in both cases. Charlie’s header was terrific . Crikey he got the man-of-the-match today and fully deserved it. Without a doubt he’s worked his tail off today on his own up there. He showed terrific appetite for what we needed at that time and showed great responsibility up there on his own. It was never easy against two uncompromising centre backs and he was rewarded for it. It doesn’t always happen.
The second goal was a definite foul, but you’ve still got to execute it. It’s a good position to be in, but you need the exponent of it and Rosey’s come in and planted bang in the top corner and the keeper’s got no chance.”
The Robins’ boss admitted it hadn’t been a great spectacle to start with and said:
“The first half was a poor first half for both teams. There was nothing much to write home about that to be honest. It was a poor game, but it livened up second half. From the way they’ve set themselves up they’ve come to get a decent result. This result might not be what they expected after we went a man down and they’ve been up twice. So really we can take the confidence from that. The fans want to see players run their socks off and they ran themselves to a stand still. No-one’s in a position to say they didn’t do that today.”
Man-of-the match Austin, 21, netted his 6th goal in ten games and was full of praise for Rose. He said: and the work ethic he’s shown today – he’s be
“He’s the sort of player you want on your side. It was a cracking delivery for my goal and then a great free kick. It’s the sort of thing he does all the time in training.”
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Keith Hill - Not Fair
After watching his team lose against Bristol Rovers on Saturday, Rochdale boss Keith Hill was left fuming about the performance of referee Craig Pawson and, in particular, the young whistler’s decision to award a penalty on the stroke of half time for the home side.
To be fair to Hill, while you could feel his frustration, he never lost the plot nor was he abusive in any way and so personally I think it would be a travesty if he were to end up with a fine. However, I have to say that I personally saw nothing wrong with the decision and couldn’t really find fault with the referee’s display that afternoon.
Rochdale probably deserved more from the game, but then again, Rovers probably deserved more from their game against Swindon the previous Monday evening. Isn’t that just football for you? The full transcript of Hill’s post match reaction follows. He said:
“I don’t think we deserved to lose the game. I think the penalty decision before half-time changed the whole complexion of the game. You know the whole structure in the second half changed because of the penalty award. I thought our game plan was working. We were causing the opposition problems and the penalty decision, or the conversion of the penalty, relived the pressure on the opposition so that decision changed the course of the game from our aspect and from their aspect.
I’m disappointed with that decision. I’m not too sure whether it’s a penalty or not, but I’m relatively disappointed with the referring standards and the referring display today for the official. I just feel as though the FA and the Referee’s Association want you to respect officials, but I can’t respect officials when they produce sub-standard performances.
Their performances will have a bearing on my future not his future and I won’t accept that as a display today as being a polished display. I just felt as though it was sub-standard and rather favoured Bristol Rovers.
The linesman didn’t give the penalty and he was in a favourable position, but the linesman gave a lot in that game in respect of fouls, free kicks, etc., but they fail to award the penalty when the referee sees it as a penalty. It might well have been a penalty, but for me the referee wasn’t in a great position to see it and it changed the whole complexion of the game and the strategy of the opposition in the second half as we saw. We shut the door. They kept it very solid at the back and tried to pinch a goal on the counter-attack which they did and I applaud the opposition for the way they played in the second half, but it was a result of a penalty decision that was really debatable.
I’m not disappointed with my team or my players. I’m disappointed with the result and the refereeing standard, but not disappointed with the way we played and the players. The only disappointment today was the result.
With the referee, I’ll phone David Ellison (I think he meant David Elleray, but there’s a time when and when not to interrupt someone) or he’ll probably call me with respect to my comments about the referee, but it was a sub-standard performance in a professional industry. It’s not bitter or sour grapes, but the lion’s share of decisions that were made favoured Bristol Rovers and the penalty decision favoured Bristol Rovers. If it wasn’t awarded by the linesman who was in a far better position to either award or deny it being a penalty. He didn’t move or make any gesture towards the referee. The referee, who was blind-sided to the incident, made the decision.”
As far as life in League One is concerned, Hill brightened up and was honest in his assessment when he said:
“I’m pleased with the progress that we’re making and the way that we’re playing. I’m pleased with the points we’ve got on the board. I’m obviously not pleased with the sequence of the last three results, but that has been a reality check for me because I’ve been a little too demanding of the players because we’ve had such a good start. So we’ve gone back to our mantra of ‘let’s see’ instead of ‘let’s expect to win’. It’s a balancing act for me. I’ve got ambitions for the players and the football club, but it’s got to be balanced with an education of League One football. We’re relatively inexperienced - myself as a manger in League One and the players are as well. We haven’t recruited too many players that have got League One experience and it can be key. But we’re educating ourselves quite well. We’re not getting drastically beaten week-in, week-out by any opposition. We’re giving ourselves an opportunity to win games and compete in games and that’ll be our strategy for the remainder of the season.
I’m really pleased with the players and there’s got to be patience with these players as they educate themselves to this league and that patience has got to come from me and my demands has got to be slightly lowered on these players that we’ve got.
Hill had special words of praise for striker Chris O’Grady who battled away against Rovers’ central defensive partnership of Byron Anthony and Danny Coles – both of who were excellent themselves - and he said:
“He’s an excellent player and integral to our development and he’s a great target man. When he plays like that he’s a handful for any defender. The first half strategy was working to perfection in my eyes. I’ve got to clear my vision of the result and see the performances of the players and see what progress we’re actually making as a football club.”
More quotes from Paul Trollope and Chris Lines to follow later (or tomorrow if I get bogged down with work!)
To be fair to Hill, while you could feel his frustration, he never lost the plot nor was he abusive in any way and so personally I think it would be a travesty if he were to end up with a fine. However, I have to say that I personally saw nothing wrong with the decision and couldn’t really find fault with the referee’s display that afternoon.
Rochdale probably deserved more from the game, but then again, Rovers probably deserved more from their game against Swindon the previous Monday evening. Isn’t that just football for you? The full transcript of Hill’s post match reaction follows. He said:
“I don’t think we deserved to lose the game. I think the penalty decision before half-time changed the whole complexion of the game. You know the whole structure in the second half changed because of the penalty award. I thought our game plan was working. We were causing the opposition problems and the penalty decision, or the conversion of the penalty, relived the pressure on the opposition so that decision changed the course of the game from our aspect and from their aspect.
I’m disappointed with that decision. I’m not too sure whether it’s a penalty or not, but I’m relatively disappointed with the referring standards and the referring display today for the official. I just feel as though the FA and the Referee’s Association want you to respect officials, but I can’t respect officials when they produce sub-standard performances.
Their performances will have a bearing on my future not his future and I won’t accept that as a display today as being a polished display. I just felt as though it was sub-standard and rather favoured Bristol Rovers.
The linesman didn’t give the penalty and he was in a favourable position, but the linesman gave a lot in that game in respect of fouls, free kicks, etc., but they fail to award the penalty when the referee sees it as a penalty. It might well have been a penalty, but for me the referee wasn’t in a great position to see it and it changed the whole complexion of the game and the strategy of the opposition in the second half as we saw. We shut the door. They kept it very solid at the back and tried to pinch a goal on the counter-attack which they did and I applaud the opposition for the way they played in the second half, but it was a result of a penalty decision that was really debatable.
I’m not disappointed with my team or my players. I’m disappointed with the result and the refereeing standard, but not disappointed with the way we played and the players. The only disappointment today was the result.
With the referee, I’ll phone David Ellison (I think he meant David Elleray, but there’s a time when and when not to interrupt someone) or he’ll probably call me with respect to my comments about the referee, but it was a sub-standard performance in a professional industry. It’s not bitter or sour grapes, but the lion’s share of decisions that were made favoured Bristol Rovers and the penalty decision favoured Bristol Rovers. If it wasn’t awarded by the linesman who was in a far better position to either award or deny it being a penalty. He didn’t move or make any gesture towards the referee. The referee, who was blind-sided to the incident, made the decision.”
As far as life in League One is concerned, Hill brightened up and was honest in his assessment when he said:
“I’m pleased with the progress that we’re making and the way that we’re playing. I’m pleased with the points we’ve got on the board. I’m obviously not pleased with the sequence of the last three results, but that has been a reality check for me because I’ve been a little too demanding of the players because we’ve had such a good start. So we’ve gone back to our mantra of ‘let’s see’ instead of ‘let’s expect to win’. It’s a balancing act for me. I’ve got ambitions for the players and the football club, but it’s got to be balanced with an education of League One football. We’re relatively inexperienced - myself as a manger in League One and the players are as well. We haven’t recruited too many players that have got League One experience and it can be key. But we’re educating ourselves quite well. We’re not getting drastically beaten week-in, week-out by any opposition. We’re giving ourselves an opportunity to win games and compete in games and that’ll be our strategy for the remainder of the season.
I’m really pleased with the players and there’s got to be patience with these players as they educate themselves to this league and that patience has got to come from me and my demands has got to be slightly lowered on these players that we’ve got.
Hill had special words of praise for striker Chris O’Grady who battled away against Rovers’ central defensive partnership of Byron Anthony and Danny Coles – both of who were excellent themselves - and he said:
“He’s an excellent player and integral to our development and he’s a great target man. When he plays like that he’s a handful for any defender. The first half strategy was working to perfection in my eyes. I’ve got to clear my vision of the result and see the performances of the players and see what progress we’re actually making as a football club.”
More quotes from Paul Trollope and Chris Lines to follow later (or tomorrow if I get bogged down with work!)
Monday, 23 August 2010
Swindon Town 1 Brentford 1 – Still Searching
My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun - left - and the same match in The News of the World (links to both papers can be found below)
A score draw in this one, but neither manager will have had a sleepless Saturday night.
Both Danny Wilson and Brentford boss Andy Scott have brought in a few new faces in the summer and so it will take time for them to gel with their new teammates as they both search for their first win. But Scott saw his team chalk up their first point of the season and Wilson must have been encouraged by the marked improvement on Swindon’s first home game of the season – a 2-1 reverse to Brighton.
Brentford took the lead after Robin’s full back Michael Rose failed to connect properly with a header back to keeper David Lucas and striker Charlie MacDonald nipped in the score from a tight angle in the 8th minute. It was a bread and butter goal for someone of MacDonald’s experience, but the 29 year old took it well nevertheless. He said afterwards:
“That’s precisely the reason why you always need to stay sharp on a football pitch. Precisely for occasions like that.”
MacDonald hasn’t set himself any targets this season, but said:
“I’ve done well in the last two and so I’m just looking for more of the same.”
Rose was left with his face buried in the grass - presumably wishing it would swallow him up - but it was just one of those clangers that you see at every level of football from time to time. However, all the more embarrassing if you're a pro.
For the next 30 minutes Rose looked slightly shaky, but then redeemed himself with a hand in David Prutton’s equaliser.
In the 40th minute the former Stockport full back who signed in the summer, launched a long throw to the near post, Sean Morrison headed a looping ball across the face of goal and former Leeds and Forest Prutton nodded in from about two yards for his first Swindon goal.
It was noticeable that while Prutton celebrated with his some of his teammates, Morrison and a couple of the other lads ran over to Rose to pat him on the back.
Morrison himself was immense on Saturday and must have given Wilson food for thought.
The Swindon manager had already stated his intention to try and bring in an established central defender to replace former skipper Gordon Greer - who left for Brighton in the summer - but Morrison certainly staked his claim with a man of the match performance.
However, Morrison 19, has a cool head on his young shoulders. He told me after the game:
“This was my first start since about March and I think I’ve learned a lot in the last year or so. I went out on loan and probably didn’t appreciate what was happening and what it was for, but I’m not the sort of person to throw his toys out of the pram if he doesn’t get picked. Obviously I want to start as many games as I can and I’m ready whenever the gaffer wants me, but I’m only 19 and so I have time on my side and I’ll continue learning.”
Links to The News of the World football website: www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/
And The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football
Friday, 20 August 2010
Back to the County Ground - The Bird And The Bee
I will be reporting on the League One fixture between Swindon Town and Brentford tomorrow afternoon.
Charlie Austin seems to have picked up where he left off last season and has now scored two goals in two league fixtures, but Swindon have yet to pick up their first win (they also went out of the League Cup to Orient), but these early games are often deceptive and I suspect that many of the new players are still bedding in and Danny Wilson won’t know his best starting eleven for a while yet.
Good to see the Topgo striker Thomas Dossevi get off the mark last weekend against Hartlepool and the result was probably a good one for Swindon given that they had to come back from two goals down against the monkey hangers.
Brentford meanwhile managed to make it through the first round of the League Cup by beating Cheltenham, but have lost both their opening fixtures.
Former Oxford striker Andy Scott now manages the Bees and is sure of a warm Wiltshire welcome given his previous associations, but he really is one of the games good guys and up and coming coaches. Brentford have already been approached by other clubs for his services, but have gamely clung on to him since his appointment back in 2007. He managed to get the West London outfit promoted from League Two in 2009.
Scott suffered a life threatening heart disorder which ended his playing career at Orient in 2005.
Gary Alexander is the only Brentford player to have scored in the league this season (although defender Craig Woodman netted in the Cup) and he may be joined up front by former Newcastle hitman Carl Cort against the Robins.
All in all, this fixture looks like a great opportunity for one of these clubs to kick start the season.
I predict a win by Swindon and a two goal margin ... so that’ll be 0-0 then!
Charlie Austin seems to have picked up where he left off last season and has now scored two goals in two league fixtures, but Swindon have yet to pick up their first win (they also went out of the League Cup to Orient), but these early games are often deceptive and I suspect that many of the new players are still bedding in and Danny Wilson won’t know his best starting eleven for a while yet.
Good to see the Topgo striker Thomas Dossevi get off the mark last weekend against Hartlepool and the result was probably a good one for Swindon given that they had to come back from two goals down against the monkey hangers.
Brentford meanwhile managed to make it through the first round of the League Cup by beating Cheltenham, but have lost both their opening fixtures.
Former Oxford striker Andy Scott now manages the Bees and is sure of a warm Wiltshire welcome given his previous associations, but he really is one of the games good guys and up and coming coaches. Brentford have already been approached by other clubs for his services, but have gamely clung on to him since his appointment back in 2007. He managed to get the West London outfit promoted from League Two in 2009.
Scott suffered a life threatening heart disorder which ended his playing career at Orient in 2005.
Gary Alexander is the only Brentford player to have scored in the league this season (although defender Craig Woodman netted in the Cup) and he may be joined up front by former Newcastle hitman Carl Cort against the Robins.
All in all, this fixture looks like a great opportunity for one of these clubs to kick start the season.
I predict a win by Swindon and a two goal margin ... so that’ll be 0-0 then!
Monday, 9 August 2010
A mixed first weekend for the clubs on my ‘patch’ – Mixed Bag
I was at Swindon to watch last year’s play-off finalists lose at home to Brighton while the two Bristol clubs both lost by three goals; Rovers at Peterborough and City at home to Millwall. Meanwhile Northampton fell to Torquay after a long coach journey to the south coast in holiday traffic (I wouldn’t have fancied being on that bus on the return trip!) and Reading lost at home to Scunthorpe in the Championship.
Oxford managed a goalless draw away to Burton on their return t League Two while Cheltenham managed a 1-1 draw at Gillingham.
At least Hereford and Wycombe managed to chalk up wins away at Crewe and at home to Morecambe respectively.
I’m off to watch Oxford play Bristol Rovers in the Carling Cup tomorrow and so will have splinters in my arse after sitting on the fence in the press box!
I managed to get along to see Oxford in their victorious play-off final win at Wembley and have to say that they looked better than a lot of the League Two sides I saw last season.
My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun
A link to The Sun's footy pages: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/
At least Hereford and Wycombe managed to chalk up wins away at Crewe and at home to Morecambe respectively.
I’m off to watch Oxford play Bristol Rovers in the Carling Cup tomorrow and so will have splinters in my arse after sitting on the fence in the press box!
I managed to get along to see Oxford in their victorious play-off final win at Wembley and have to say that they looked better than a lot of the League Two sides I saw last season.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Swindon Town 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2 – Glass Spider
New signings David Prutton and Thomas Dossevi get Swindon's season underway
There were so many cobwebs on the County Ground pitch yesterday it must have been an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare.
Despite all that’s said about pre-season games being good for building up sharpness and fitness, the opening day fixture is very often an anti-climax and I’ve found that it usually takes most players a game or two to dust themselves down and get into the swing of things.
Last year, for example, Swindon were stuffed by five goals on the opening day and still made it to the play-off final while eventual champions Norwich had seven put past them in an early fixture.
It’s far too early to make any rash judgments and there’s no need for Danny Wilson to panic just yet. As he pointed out after the game:
“It was disappointing, but I’m too long in the tooth to over-react. It’ll get better though, but there’s plenty of work to be done.”
Personally, I don’t think the Swindon fans will over-react (well apart from the usual mindless minority you find at most clubs). Wilson and his players earned themselves some time and a lot of respect after last year’s run to Wembley. Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised if they practice passing a fair bit in the coming week. I lost count of the number of hospital balls played by Swindon yesterday afternoon. At one point I wondered whether they had all fallen out with each other at the pre-match lunch.
Several new boys were on show in red.
Thomas Dossevi partnered Charlie Austin up front and, although Austin got his customary goal in the 80th minute (see video below), Dossevi struggled and was substituted at half time. According to Wilson the Togo striker “was shell shocked” after the rough service handed to him by the Brighton boys. Wilson wasn’t whinging and pointed out that it was something the lad “would have to get used to”.
Charlie Austin opens his (and Swindon's) account for the season
David Prutton partnered Jonathan Douglas in midfield and I was surprised that Simon Ferry started on the bench given the understanding he developed with Douglas last season.
Former Forest and Leeds midfielder Prutton put in the effort, but it didn’t quite happen for him on his debut. However, he’s been around too long to let one game bother him. I’m sure that the competition for midfield places will be an interesting one this term and it’ll be fascinating to see whether – as Wilson must hope – it benefits the club.
Fellow debutant Michael Rose looked comfortable at right back and it was the former Stockport man’s free kick that led to Austin’s first of the season.
The remaining new face, David Ball who is on loan from Manchester City, seemed to grow in confidence as the game wore on. Ball reminded me of Danny Ward who played for Swindon on loan last season. Ward started off quietly, but ended up as a key member of the starting eleven at Wembley.
I was sorry to see Sean Morrison on the bench as well yesterday, but both Scott Cuthbert and Lecsinel Jean-Francois played well in the centre of defence and so like Ferry, Morrison will need to bide his time.
Brighton’s boss Gus Poyet couldn’t believe his luck after the game and admitted:
“It was a strange game. I think we played better against Swindon last year and we didn’t get anything. It was a good start though.”
Matt Sparrow scored a brace in his debut following a summer move from Scunthorpe and it was no surprise to anyone when Poyet describe him as “a very happy boy”. His first goal in particular was stunning strike that flew in off the inside of the post from 20 yards and left keeper Phil Smith with no chance.
Sparrow spent eleven years at Scunthorpe and told me that Gus Poyet was the main reason he decided to move to Brighton. Keeper Casper Ankergren also cited Poyet as the reason he turned down lucrative deals in Turkey to join the Seagulls and you have to wonder whether the Poyet factor might see them fighting at the top of the table come next May ... but like I say, it’s too early to make any judgments at this stage.
Friday, 6 August 2010
Let the games commence – Brighton Rock
I’m off to Swindon tomorrow for the League One opener against Brighton and it’ll be interesting to see how the Robins bounce back after their play-off final defeat.
After struggling the previous season, Danny Wilson’s boys did incredibly well to make it to Wembley last term, but will they find this season a little tougher? There’s no doubt that they will have earned the respect of the rest of the division and – while a top two position might be tricky with the likes of Southampton and Charlton trying to get back into the Championship – Swindon have a canny boss at the helm and a decent squad.
One player who they might miss is Billy Paynter who weighed in with 29 goals on the way to the play-off final before joining Leeds in the summer. Then again, the County Ground faithful also worried when Simon Cox left for West Brom one year ago, before Robins' fan Charlie Austin started banging them in.
Swindon’s success might depend on whether Wilson can play a suitable foil up front for Austin. Togo striker Thomas Dossevi has just signed a one year deal and former Stoke City and Pompey hitman Vincent Péricard – who was also on the books of Juventus as a kid – is itching for a run in the side. Personally I think a fit Péricard could more than make up for Paynter, although only if he matches the Scouser’s work ethic.
This might also be the season when young Sean Morrison makes his mark and it wouldn’t surprise me if he isn’t being linked with a few bigger clubs by the end of the season if he knuckles down and plays to his potential. He’s only 19 years old and still learning his trade, but has all the attributes needed by a central defender. If he keeps focused, he gets the chances and the crowd cut him a little slack, he could quite easily fill the void left by former skipper Gordon Greer who – along with manager Gus Poyet and Slovak keeper Peter Brezovan - returns with his new employers tomorrow afternoon.
Simon Ferry has also signed from Celtic after spending last season on loan at the Robins and along with Jonathan Douglas and Jon Paul McGovern, was an outstanding and consistent performer on the way the Wembley.
In goal both David Lucas and Phil Smith can do a good job at this level and seem to have had the confidence of their defenders last season. There’s no reason why that shouldn’t continue.
Danny Wilson has brought in a few new faces during the summer and if anyone can get them to gel, it’s him. Wilson has been around the block and has earned the right to be backed by the fans and the board.
I’m tipping the Robins for a top six finish this season and wouldn’t be surprised if local neighbours Bristol Rovers join them. A play-off final meeting? What a great day out at Wembley that would be. Does North London stock enough cider to cope?
After struggling the previous season, Danny Wilson’s boys did incredibly well to make it to Wembley last term, but will they find this season a little tougher? There’s no doubt that they will have earned the respect of the rest of the division and – while a top two position might be tricky with the likes of Southampton and Charlton trying to get back into the Championship – Swindon have a canny boss at the helm and a decent squad.
One player who they might miss is Billy Paynter who weighed in with 29 goals on the way to the play-off final before joining Leeds in the summer. Then again, the County Ground faithful also worried when Simon Cox left for West Brom one year ago, before Robins' fan Charlie Austin started banging them in.
Swindon’s success might depend on whether Wilson can play a suitable foil up front for Austin. Togo striker Thomas Dossevi has just signed a one year deal and former Stoke City and Pompey hitman Vincent Péricard – who was also on the books of Juventus as a kid – is itching for a run in the side. Personally I think a fit Péricard could more than make up for Paynter, although only if he matches the Scouser’s work ethic.
This might also be the season when young Sean Morrison makes his mark and it wouldn’t surprise me if he isn’t being linked with a few bigger clubs by the end of the season if he knuckles down and plays to his potential. He’s only 19 years old and still learning his trade, but has all the attributes needed by a central defender. If he keeps focused, he gets the chances and the crowd cut him a little slack, he could quite easily fill the void left by former skipper Gordon Greer who – along with manager Gus Poyet and Slovak keeper Peter Brezovan - returns with his new employers tomorrow afternoon.
Simon Ferry has also signed from Celtic after spending last season on loan at the Robins and along with Jonathan Douglas and Jon Paul McGovern, was an outstanding and consistent performer on the way the Wembley.
In goal both David Lucas and Phil Smith can do a good job at this level and seem to have had the confidence of their defenders last season. There’s no reason why that shouldn’t continue.
Danny Wilson has brought in a few new faces during the summer and if anyone can get them to gel, it’s him. Wilson has been around the block and has earned the right to be backed by the fans and the board.
I’m tipping the Robins for a top six finish this season and wouldn’t be surprised if local neighbours Bristol Rovers join them. A play-off final meeting? What a great day out at Wembley that would be. Does North London stock enough cider to cope?
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