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January 2018 – Winding up
It was moments after the final whistle of Swindon’s first match in January against Bradford. The dressing room was in jubilation. McGhee walked over and hugged Bjorn Sigurdarson, his side’s hero of the day. The Icelandic international has had a long road back from injury but his hat-trick today showed he is right back. Scanning around though McGhee found his target – Mattock. Joe wore the full brunt of Charlie’s displeasure at his silly send off as he picked up his second yellow before half time!
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Unfortunately in the post-match recovery session Bjorn pulled up lame – he’d taken a hard knock to the chest and it appeared he had damaged some rib cartilage that would now setback his return another 2 weeks – disappointing after such a great performance.
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The team faced a monumental challenge in the second game of the new year. Their FA Cup 3rd round tie saw them matched up with Premiership side Everton. McGhee sent his team out to play their expansive style that has seen them win so many plaudits in League 1 this season. Unfortunately, against opposition of the caliber of Everton, they were eviscerated. A 7-2 thumping that showed the squad, and Charlie, exactly how far from the top they really are.
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Charlie had seen young Tottenham Loanee Cameron Carter Vickers go down after appearing to roll his ankle making a challenge in the Everton match. When the swelling didn’t subside as quickly Swindon sent him for scans and they revealed some fractures that will need to be pinned and see him miss 3 months – devastating news for the 20 year old who has been a rock at the back for Swindon. After discussions with the Centre Half Charlie decided against sending him back to Tottenham and there is still time for him to recover and get some much needed game time with the Robins to round off the year for him.
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Charlie shook his head when he realised they would be facing Bradford for the second time in weeks in the League next – this is the 2nd time this has happened this season, someone in the FA offices must have been smoking something when they did the draw this year!! Whilst it was a different venue the result was the same and with Sigurdarson injured the attention turned to Jonathan Obika to shoulder the scoring load and his did so admirably today grabbing himself a brace.
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Swindon faced Cambridge in their fourth game in January on the back of a couple of solid wins in the league. Unfortunately today was a less than desirable outcome, even if the performance wasn’t the worst. Swindon played their usual, expansive game and were made to pay by a Cambridge side that kept things tight – a goal from former Premiership striker Matt Derbyshire the game’s defining moment. With Sigurdarson still sidelined this game served to reinforce McGhee’s desire for a solid 3rd striker, but with the window winding down time was running out.
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Thankfully SIgurdarson/Obika was back for the trip to Rotherham and despite an early equalizer from Rotherham this game was always Swindon’s with both 1st choice strikers getting on the score sheet.
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The final match of January was the visit of 1st placed Chesterfield. In the week leading up to the game Charlie was searching high and low for a striker and one appeared in the most unlikely of places. Chesterfield, his upcoming opponents, utilize a one striker system that see’s Nathan Delfouenso start most of the matches. Backup striker Sylvain Ebanks-Blake has seen is opportunities limited which is ridiculous seeing as he only trails Delfouenso by a solitary goal in the Chesterfield scoring charts despite only playing half the matches and the majority of those as a substitute. Well when Chesterfield transfer listed him for a king’s ransom of 0 pounds due to his refusal to sign a contract extension, well, it was almost written in the stars for Swindon. A chance to grab a quality backup, one with Premiership experience, and weaken their now main rival for the League title – TRIFECTA!
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After plundering their squad for a quality striker Swindon set about dealing their title amibitions a further hit in the match at Swindon’s County Ground and boy did they! A 3 nil thumping not only sent Chesterfield home with their tails between their legs but also saw the Robins climb above Chesterfield into 1st place – now the trick will be staying there!!
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Danilo Pantic’s recent good performances were enough for him to be name Player of the Month for January. Also Walker-Peters’ good form and Swindon’s overall saw him and Charlie run 2nd in the Young Player and Manager of the Month awards respectively.
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There it is. Charlie was looking on the BBC Football website but he could still scarcely believe it. His Swindon side were top and playing great footy. With a decent gap to 3rd as well now is the time to keep this progression going and make promotion a certainty!
View attachment 200845
Apologies for the quality of some of the screenshots for January and February (update to come) I was sick earlier in the week so got out of the house (to avoid spreading my sickness to my kids) and was playing on my laptop which is no where near as nice to play FM on as my PC...
January 2018 – Winding up
It was moments after the final whistle of Swindon’s first match in January against Bradford. The dressing room was in jubilation. McGhee walked over and hugged Bjorn Sigurdarson, his side’s hero of the day. The Icelandic international has had a long road back from injury but his hat-trick today showed he is right back. Scanning around though McGhee found his target – Mattock. Joe wore the full brunt of Charlie’s displeasure at his silly send off as he picked up his second yellow before half time!
View attachment 200859
Unfortunately in the post-match recovery session Bjorn pulled up lame – he’d taken a hard knock to the chest and it appeared he had damaged some rib cartilage that would now setback his return another 2 weeks – disappointing after such a great performance.
View attachment 200858
The team faced a monumental challenge in the second game of the new year. Their FA Cup 3rd round tie saw them matched up with Premiership side Everton. McGhee sent his team out to play their expansive style that has seen them win so many plaudits in League 1 this season. Unfortunately, against opposition of the caliber of Everton, they were eviscerated. A 7-2 thumping that showed the squad, and Charlie, exactly how far from the top they really are.
View attachment 200857View attachment 200856
Charlie had seen young Tottenham Loanee Cameron Carter Vickers go down after appearing to roll his ankle making a challenge in the Everton match. When the swelling didn’t subside as quickly Swindon sent him for scans and they revealed some fractures that will need to be pinned and see him miss 3 months – devastating news for the 20 year old who has been a rock at the back for Swindon. After discussions with the Centre Half Charlie decided against sending him back to Tottenham and there is still time for him to recover and get some much needed game time with the Robins to round off the year for him.
View attachment 200855
View attachment 200854
Charlie shook his head when he realised they would be facing Bradford for the second time in weeks in the League next – this is the 2nd time this has happened this season, someone in the FA offices must have been smoking something when they did the draw this year!! Whilst it was a different venue the result was the same and with Sigurdarson injured the attention turned to Jonathan Obika to shoulder the scoring load and his did so admirably today grabbing himself a brace.
View attachment 200853
Swindon faced Cambridge in their fourth game in January on the back of a couple of solid wins in the league. Unfortunately today was a less than desirable outcome, even if the performance wasn’t the worst. Swindon played their usual, expansive game and were made to pay by a Cambridge side that kept things tight – a goal from former Premiership striker Matt Derbyshire the game’s defining moment. With Sigurdarson still sidelined this game served to reinforce McGhee’s desire for a solid 3rd striker, but with the window winding down time was running out.
View attachment 200852
Thankfully SIgurdarson/Obika was back for the trip to Rotherham and despite an early equalizer from Rotherham this game was always Swindon’s with both 1st choice strikers getting on the score sheet.
View attachment 200851
The final match of January was the visit of 1st placed Chesterfield. In the week leading up to the game Charlie was searching high and low for a striker and one appeared in the most unlikely of places. Chesterfield, his upcoming opponents, utilize a one striker system that see’s Nathan Delfouenso start most of the matches. Backup striker Sylvain Ebanks-Blake has seen is opportunities limited which is ridiculous seeing as he only trails Delfouenso by a solitary goal in the Chesterfield scoring charts despite only playing half the matches and the majority of those as a substitute. Well when Chesterfield transfer listed him for a king’s ransom of 0 pounds due to his refusal to sign a contract extension, well, it was almost written in the stars for Swindon. A chance to grab a quality backup, one with Premiership experience, and weaken their now main rival for the League title – TRIFECTA!
View attachment 200850
After plundering their squad for a quality striker Swindon set about dealing their title amibitions a further hit in the match at Swindon’s County Ground and boy did they! A 3 nil thumping not only sent Chesterfield home with their tails between their legs but also saw the Robins climb above Chesterfield into 1st place – now the trick will be staying there!!
View attachment 200849
Danilo Pantic’s recent good performances were enough for him to be name Player of the Month for January. Also Walker-Peters’ good form and Swindon’s overall saw him and Charlie run 2nd in the Young Player and Manager of the Month awards respectively.
View attachment 200848
View attachment 200847
View attachment 200846
There it is. Charlie was looking on the BBC Football website but he could still scarcely believe it. His Swindon side were top and playing great footy. With a decent gap to 3rd as well now is the time to keep this progression going and make promotion a certainty!
View attachment 200845
Apologies for the quality of some of the screenshots for January and February (update to come) I was sick earlier in the week so got out of the house (to avoid spreading my sickness to my kids) and was playing on my laptop which is no where near as nice to play FM on as my PC...
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