Swindon Town’s form seems enigmatic. Off the field they have had troubles with the authorities over their ownership which I tried to explore, but there was no obvious way to discover what it was all about. The fact that the EFL had concerns obviously raises suspicions that something is amiss.
They lost their manager around that time who went to Crawley and again that seemed curious as it seemed like a step down.
Coming back to their form, early in the season they were in the top 3 and the play-off places, probably around the time when their off-field troubles occurred. They have since drifted down the table particularly in the period from then to Christmas when things recovered slightly. Most notably they narrowly lost to Mansfield away last week, but then lost at home to Accrington who are in poor form. So assuming Rovers can maintain their recent form, they may well have enough to win even without Ironside , especially if Biamou can do a job up front in his place.
So I’m leaning towards a win, but I’d settle for a draw 2-2 (Adelukan/Biamou)I
DPL v Swindon Town
posted on 16/3/24
Crazy. do you have some French blood in you? I used to write Molyneaux when he first joined us.
posted on 16/3/24
Second half not good for the heart - but it would have been easier if Molineux had not missed a "sitter"!
posted on 16/3/24
Finger trouble again! Molyneux!
posted on 17/3/24
Maybe there's some French DNA lurking within the family history, Micky. Je ne sais pas. It's a good excuse for my typo though - I think I'll use that!
posted on 17/3/24
I’ve only seen the highlights and listened to the “Home” commentary on iFollow and although the BBC report and Rovers sources saw it as fairly comfortable, it did look as though Swindon got the better of the second half. So we defended well, Swindon were not over-impressive in attack and it seemed more workmanlike than completely proficient.
Lo Tutala made some stops that the man on the bench could never have reacted to quickly enough. He would have watched a couple of them helplessly and his fans would have said “Jones had no chance”. And of course it would be true.
What on earth will McCann do with him and Lawlor who is obviously now injury-prone. Jones poor performances over the first part of the season is arguably the difference between Rovers having a chance of the play-offs and where we are now.
posted on 18/3/24
Over the last nine league games since we were thrashed by Stockport, we have 18 points. If we had earned points at that rate over 37 games we would be top, and over the season it would certainly be playoff standard and in most seasons, automatic promotion. OK, we have not played really top teams over that period, but it shows some of the potential this squad has.
Unfortunately, most of the improvement is probably the addition of two loanees - Adelakun and Lo Tutala. There is no chance to keep the goalkeeper, and little chance Adelakun - in the interview he said it is the hands of his team. How much salary would it need plus convincing him we would get promoted?
As far as a goalkeeper is concerned, one hopes the recent games do show we need a new GK. Cheque books need to come out, plus real input about possibly available keepers. McCann's comments about Jones and Lawlor in the past indicate he does not want to criticize his players in public, or he does not know what a good GK looks like. However the signing of Lo -Tutala indicates it is likely the former.
Those two saves in the second half, as Donaldo said, we have gone in with Jones between the sticks.
posted on 18/3/24
"would have gone in" - finger trouble again, or aggressive spell check!
posted on 19/3/24
I agree with minor qualifications. Since leaving Scunthorpe 6 years ago, Adelukan has played in 95 matches. He did play 44 times for Lincoln before they started to loan him out, but he has not really started regularly since then. He has not scored at anything like the rate he has for us anywhere else either even at Scunthorpe where he was a regular starter.
Assuming he gets offers at a higher level, games will not be guaranteed. If he stays he ought to get a fairly long term deal at a club where he has been more successful than anywhere else.
LoTulala too has not been playing regularly - there are 3 other goalkeepers ahead of him at Hull, so whilst his choices are not quite the same, perhaps a continuation of the loan might be possible.
posted on 19/3/24
I like your comments Donaldo, and hope you are more right than I was. An extension of the loan for Lo-Tutala could be the best for all parties. Hull did extend his contract, so must think there is value/talent there.
I did think we had a good chance to sign Adelakun, mainly for the reasons you stated. However, his comment about "it was in the hands of his team" set off alarm bells. Agents tend to go for highest combination possible of playing level and salary. May be I'm just too cynical!
posted on 21/3/24
It was evasive I agree, and it was not lost on me either. Adelukan is no longer young, relatively speaking, and will have been hardened by his experiences with the succession of clubs, but only sporadic starts and often at a lower level than the contracted club.
So what would you advise him to do as his agent? I’d say “big fish in (relatively) small pond” and extract the best possible deal. But I suppose I’m biased.